EFFECTIVENESS OF BOBATH CONCEPT ON LOWER EXTREMITY DYNAMIC BALANCE AND GAIT VELOCITY AMONG SUBJECTS WITH ACUTE STROKE.

ABSTRACT: Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability worldwide, with a significant proportion of survivors experiencing motor deficits that impact functional mobility and independence. Among the most common post-stroke impairments are deficits in dynamic balance and reduced gait velocity, both of which severely affect a patient's ability to perform daily activities and increase the risk of falls.Rehabilitation during the acute phase of stroke is critical, as this period represents a window of heightened neuroplasticity, where timely interventions can significantly influence recovery outcomes(1). The Bobath Concept, is a widely utilized approach in neurological rehabilitation. It focuses on facilitating normal movement patterns, improving postural alignment, and reducing abnormal muscle tone through guided handling techniques and task-specific training.Therefore, this is to evaluate the effectiveness of Bobath concept on lower extremity dynamic balance and gait velocity among subjects with acute stroke(1). AIM: The Aim of the study is ” to determine the effectiveness of Bobath concept on Lower extremity Dynamic balance and Gait velocity among subjects with Acute stroke. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the effect of Bobath concept on lower extremity dynamic balance by Berg balance scale and gait velocity by Timed 10 meter walk test in acute stroke in Experimental group. To evaluate the effect of Bobath concept on lower extremity dynamic balance by Berg balance scale and gait velocity by Timed 10 meter walk test in acute stroke in Control group. To compare the effect of Bobath concept and Conventional physiotherapy on lower extremity dynamic balance by Berg balance scale and gait velocity by Timed 10 meter walk test among subjects with acute stroke in Experimental group and Control group. METHODS: In this study 30 subjects diagnosed with acute stroke were enrolled, who exhibited impairments in lower extremity dynamic balance and gait velocity. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (receiving Bobath concept-based physiotherapy along with conventional physiotherapy) or the control group (receiving conventional physiotherapy alone). The study followed a pre-post experimental design over a 6-week intervention period. The experimental group underwent supervised Bobath-based therapy sessions focusing on postural control, facilitation of normal movement patterns, and gait re-education. ANALYSIS: Pre- and post-values were analysed using Paired t-tests within the groups and individual unpaired t-test were used to analysed the data between the groups. RESULTS: The study included 30 acute stroke patients, equally divided into control and experimental groups (n=15 each). Baseline characteristics such as age, gender, and side of lesion were comparable between the groups (p > 0.05). Following intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in balance and gait. In the control group, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score increased from 29.73 ± 4.07 to 38.8 ± 4.2 (p = 0.00), while the experimental group improved from 31.87 ± 4.4 to 46.47 ± 2.7 (p = 0.00). Between-group comparison showed a significant post-treatment difference favoring the experimental group (p = 0.00). Similarly, gait speed improved from 1.43 ± 0.1 m/s to 1.65 ± 0.24 m/s in the control group, and from 1.47 ± 0.2 m/s to 1.9 ± 0.31 m/s in the experimental group (both p = 0.00). Post-intervention gait speed was significantly higher in the experimental group (p = 0.017), indicating superior improvement with the combined Bobath and conventional therapy. CONCLUSION: The present study concluded that the Bobath concept-based rehabilitation was effective in improving lower extremity dynamic balance and gait velocity among patients with acute stroke. Participants who received Bobath concept showed significant improvements when compared to those who received conventional physiotherapy alone. These results supported the use of the Bobath concept as a beneficial intervention during the early stages of stroke rehabilitation to enhance functional mobility and promote greater independence in daily activities. KEYWORDS: Bobath concept, Dynamic balance, Gait velocity, Acute stroke, Concentional physiotherapy.