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NCT Number: NCT07484581

Effect of Wobble Board Exercises Versus Swiss Ball Exercises on Balance and Functional Stability of Stroke Patients

A stroke is characterized as a condition in which the brain's main arteries get clogged, reducing oxygen flow and potentially leading to death or severe disability. There are various types of strokes, such as transient ischemic attack (TIA), hemorrhagic stroke, and ischemic stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke is the most prevalent kind among them Strokes frequently alter postural balance. Balance is a complicated process that involves both static and dynamic elements. It significantly influences gait performance and community ambulation after strokes. Balance impairment is a common cause of falls in stroke survivors.

Post-stroke recovery is related to loss of control of one's body posture, uneven weight distribution, and lack of anticipatory and reactive balance, which hinder movement in the community and severely affect one's quality of life. The loss of balance is one of the major problems that stroke patients have to deal with and is considered the most serious part of the illness. Medically, it is characterized as the result of multiple factors such as: i) damage to brain areas responsible for processing vestibular input, ii) blockage for proprioceptive feedback, iii) poor coordination among the different brain regions involved in motor planning and execution and visual feedback. These factors, in turn, and together, block the person's body from moving stably during static and dynamic activities. More than 70% of stroke patients develop significant balance problems within the first year of the stroke and such problems, besides other factors, are the reason for the high occurrence of falls among them. Reports indicate that the fall rate in the stroke population is more than double that in the non-disabled elderly.

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Key information

Conditions

Stroke Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Nervous System Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

40 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

A stroke is categorized by a local neurological deficiency that progresses suddenly and persists longer than twenty-four hours, which led to death before time . Stroke, the disruption of blood supply to the brain, remains the top cause of debility that lasts for long time, creating considerable socioeconomic and healthcare issues all over the world. The ads need to show that this condition can sometimes lead to serious cases where the person is not able to control or feel anything, is not able to balance, or walk, and is not functioning independently. Over the last few years, research has shown that each year there are more than 12 million new strokes all over the world and many people who have survived stroke undergo through a long process of rehabilitation whereby they are only taught how to get back to functioning more or less and at the same time to be less prone to falling.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Participants were required to have a history of stroke (>6-months)
Age; 40-60 years old both male and female.
Patients who have Ischemic or Hemorrhagic stroke
Participants must tolerate at least 30 minutes of seated or standing activity to participate in the program progressively.
Participants must have intact or corrected eyesight in order to use the equipment and visual balancing cues properly.
The participant should be able to stand with little assistance and sit on their own.

Exclusion criteria

Subjects with impaired visual or vestibular impairment and systemic illness
Subjects unable to provide a proper medical history
Subjects with neuropathies due to non-diabetic cause
Subjects with any other neurological condition that can impair balance
Subjects with any other musculoskeletal conditions that cause pain and instability
Subjects with severe diabetes with foot ulcers or foot deformities
Subjects with any kind of lower limb amputation.

Treatment and study plan

Wobble Board Exercises

Other

Duration: 10 minutes per session Frequency: 3 sessions per week Objective: Establish foundational balance in standing for mild-to-moderate spasticity levels.

Exercises:

Static Standing: Participants stand on the wobble board with assistance as needed to develop balance without causing undue strain on spastic muscles.
Gentle Weight Shifts: Controlled side-to-side and front-to-back shifts (10-15 repetitions) for proprioception and core activation, adjusted to individual spasticity levels.

Duration: 25 minutes per session Frequency: 3 sessions per week Objective: Gradual increase in static balance exercises to enhance postural control without exceeding tolerance levels.

Exercises:

Static Balance Drills: Standing on the wobble board with increasing independence, focusing on postural alignment and balance.
Heel-to-Toe Walking: Slow, controlled steps (10 repetitions) on a stable surface to promote coordination and foot placement control.
Controlled Weight Shifts:

Swiss Ball Exercises

Other

Duration: 10 minutes per session Frequency: 3 sessions per week Objective: Build initial seated balance and core activation on the Swiss ball.

Exercises:

Seated Balance: Sitting on Swiss ball to activate the core without overstressing spastic or weak muscles.
Gentle Bouncing: Slow, controlled bounces (10-15 repetitions) to improve dynamic seated stability within a safe range for those with mild to moderate spasticity Duration: 25 minutes per session Frequency: 3 sessions per week Objective: Increase core stability and seated balance while avoiding excessive muscle fatigue.

Exercises:

Seated Balance Drills: Static seated balance drills to reinforce postural control.
Pelvic Tilts: Gentle, slow tilts (10 repetitions per side) to engage core stabilizers without excessive hip muscle strain.
Simple Reaches: Reaching exercises (10 repetitions per direction) that challenge seated stability in a controlled range of motion.

Duration: 30 minutes per session

Primary outcomes

(FSST) Four-Square Step Test

Time frame: 2 to 4 mins

The Four-Square Step Test (FSST) is a dynamic evaluation tool for balance and coordination in which participants step forward, sideways, and backward over four canes set in a cross pattern. Score is determined by the time that it takes to finish; two trials are made, and the best time is noted. Research has confirmed its reproducibility and validity, such as musculoskeletal problems, neurological illnesses, and elderly adults. With a cut-off period of 15 seconds, it accurately detects fall risk, with older persons having a larger chance of falling
Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

Time frame: 2 to 4 mins

An instrument that is frequently used to evaluate an adult's balance and fall risk is the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). It has 14 tasks with a maximum score of 56, and each activity is rated on a scale of 0 to 4. Improved balance is indicated by higher scores. Low fall risk is indicated by scores 41-56, medium fall risk by scores 21-40, and high fall risk by scores 0-20. Particularly in stroke rehabilitation, it predicts functional results and correlates well with other balance measures

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Imran Amjad, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

03324390125

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Mar 20, 2026
Registry last updated: Mar 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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