Comparative Effect of Manual Perturbation Exercises Versus Circuit Class Training Exercises on Improving Balance in Subjects with Subacute Stroke

Background and Objective: Perturbation-based balance training (PBT/Manual Perturbation Exercises) is a novel balance training intervention that incorporates exposure to repeated postural perturbations to evoke rapid balance reactions, enabling individual to improve control of these reactions with practice and Circuit class trainings (CCT) consist of different work stations and these workstations provide the opportunity for maximum repetition of task. Hence, purpose of study is to find effectiveness of PBT versus CCT, along with Conventional therapy (CT) on improving balance in subjects with subacute stroke. Method: An experimental study was conducted on Thirty participants with two groups: “Group A” (PBT) & “Group B” (CCT), subjects with subacute stroke were randomly allocated i. e,15 in each group. Impairment in balance function was assessed using Berg Balance scale (BBS). Fall risk was measured by Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). Balance and Mobility status was evaluated B for all subjects of before starting the intervention & after 4 weeks of intervention. Results: Analysis found that there was significant effect of CCT Exercises with CT on improvement of balance in subjects with subacute stroke. When post intervention means of BBS and TUG balance and mobility were compared between Group A & B, results demonstrated that there is statistically significant difference in means between the groups Conclusion: The present study concluded that four weeks of CCT exercises with CT showed significant effects on improvement of balance and mobility in subjects with subacute stroke. However, the greater percentage of improvement was found in CCT when compared with PBT. Key words: Manual perturbation exercises, circuit class training exercises, balance, subacute stroke, berg balance scale, timed up and go test