Effect of Lunge Exercise with Foot Intrinsic Muscle Stretching on Joint Range of Motion, Balance, and Gait Ability in Patients with Chronic Stroke

This study aimed to investigate the effects of lunge exercise with foot intrinsic muscle stretching on joint range of motion, balance, and gait ability. Ten chronic stroke patients (n=10) were selected and interventions were 3 rounds of lunge exercises per day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. Each set comprised 10 repetitions. The subjects' joint range of motion (ROM), berg balance scale (BBS), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and gait analysis were recorded before and after the intervention. A paired t-test was used to determine significant changes in the post-intervention period compared to before the intervention. After 4 weeks of intervention, the ROM significantly increased (p<.001), the BBS significantly improved (p<.001), and the 6MWT significantly showed improvement (p<.001). Additionally, gait speed significantly increased (p=.001). These results suggest that lunge exercise with foot intrinsic muscle stretching reduces and improves joint range of motion, balance, and gait disorders in patients with chronic stroke.