Kessler researchers test trunk-strengthening program for hemiplegia post stroke

East Hanover, NJ. February 26, 2020. Researchers at Kessler Foundation are studying a potential application of a trunk-strengthening program to improve posture, balance, and mobility in individuals recovering from stroke. They will test the feasibility of using an electromechanical device called the AllCore360º Core Therapy and Training System in the rehabilitation of stroke survivors with hemiplegia. Rakesh Pilkar, PhD, research scientist in the Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research, is the principal investigator for the study, titled, “A novel trunk-strengthening program for improving posture and balance for individuals with hemiplegia post stroke,” which is supported by AllCore360º (Alpharetta, GA) and Kessler Foundation.

The impact of weakness of trunk muscles after stroke is substantial. Adverse effects on posture and balance impair the performance of activities of daily living, impede recovery, and limit independence. Poor trunk control is associated with longer hospital stays, increased risk for falls, and poorer function at discharge. “Despite evidence for the importance of trunk control to functional outcomes in this population, there is a lack of a standardized approach to trunk strengthening in stroke rehabilitation,” said Dr. Pilkar, “and little information on the application of electromechanical devices for this type of therapy. This pilot study enables us to test a trunk-strengthening protocol using the AllCore360º in individuals with hemiplegia, examine the underlying neuromuscular mechanisms, and measure the effects on posture, balance, and walking ability,” he explained. “If preliminary findings are promising, further studies of this protocol may be warranted.”

The AllCore360º is an adjustable system that leverages gravity to engage all trunk muscles in a 10-minute session. While seated in the AllCore360º, the person uses isometric contraction of their trunk muscles to hold their position while the device rotates clockwise, then counterclockwise, at different angles and positions.

Participants will be recruited from the stroke rehabilitation program at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. All participants (10 in stroke group and 10 controls) will undergo baseline and follow-up assessments of trunk function, balance, posture, and ambulation. The stroke group will undergo the 4-week trunk-strengthening program, including neuromuscular assessment using electromyography.

“We are pleased to partner with the Kessler Foundation on this pilot study aimed at expanding options for stroke rehabilitation,” said Scott Bertrand, DC, founder and inventor of AllCore360º. “Having witnessed the benefits of core strengthening in people seeking to improve their health and fitness, we are optimistic that the Kessler team will see improved outcomes in individuals recovering from stroke.”

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About AllCore360º

The Patented AllCore360° Rehabilitation Core Training System allows patients, seniors, athletes and everyday people, to balance and strengthen the more than 50 muscles that comprise the core in an innovative efficient way. In multiple facilities throughout the United States, therapists and leading edge trainers utilize the System to promote faster recovery, improve fitness, and enhance physical performance. The AllCore360° harnesses the forces of gravity to challenge all of the body’s core muscles in a no impact, coordinated, isometric fashion designed to improve athletic or daily performance regardless of ability. For more information, please visit

http://www.

AllCore360.

com

.

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About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes–including employment–for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

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