Comparison between Two Designed Exercise Programs for Balance Disability in Cerebellar Stroke Patients

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the effect of two designed programs of exercises on balance disability in cerebellar stroke patients. Twenty four cerebellar stroke patients participated in this study. Patients' age ranged from 52 to 67 years. They were randomly assigned into two matched groups. Group 1 received graduated balance exercises, while group 2 received the same program as group 1 plus graduated active exercises for the trunk, hip and knee extensors. The program was done three times per week for two months. Both static and dynamic balance was measured for both groups before and after the physiotherapy training program. Static balance was measured by using static balance test which is an ordinal clinical scale, while dynamic balance (overall stability index) was measured by using Biodex stability system. Results of this study revealed that there was a highly significant improvement regarding static balance in both groups at the end of physiotherapy training program, with a significant improvement in group 2 compared to group 1. Regarding the dynamic balance the study revealed that there was a highly significant improvement in both groups at the end of the physiotherapy program. There was no significant difference in the improvement between both groups. On conclusion, using a program of graduated balance exercises leads to improvement of both static and dynamic balance in cerebellar stroke patients. Addition of trunk, hip and knees extensors graduated active exercises can further improves static balance in those patients.