Effects of scapulohumeral rehabilitation protocol on trunk control recovery in patients with subacute stroke: a pilot randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Despite upper limb rehabilitation is widely investigated in patients with stroke, the effects of scapulohumeral rehabilitation on trunk stabillization are mainly unknown. OBJECTIVE: To test the effects of scapulohumeral rehabilitation protocol on trunk control recovery in patients with subacute stroke. METHODS: A pilot randomized controlled trial with two groups of 14 patients each one performing 20 minutes per day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks in add on to standard therapy. Experimental group performed a specific scapulohumeral rehabilitation protocol aiming to improve trunk competencies whereas control group performed conventional arm rehabilitation. Clinical scale tests and accelerometric evaluations were performed pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS: Experimental groups showed better scores at discharge at Trunk impairment Scale (p < 0.001), Barthel Index (p = 0.024), Trunk Control Test (p = 0.002), Sitting Balance Scale (p = 0.002), but neither at Fugl-Meyer Scale (p = 0.194) nor Modified Ashworth Scale (p = 0.114). Accelerometric analysis showed higher stability of trunk for experimental group especially during static and dynamic items. CONCLUSIONS: The recovery of scapulohumeral functions also acts on trunk stabilization post-stroke.