Effects of Vojta Therapy on Posture and Trunk Control

Effects of Vojta Therapy on Posture and Trunk Control in Patients With Sub-acute Stroke

Vojta therapy that is reflex locomotion therapy is a neurophysiological rehabilitation approach that stimulates specific "reflex zones" on the body to activate global, innate movement patterns. In stroke rehabilitation, it is used to improve postural control, trunk stability, and functional movement by engaging automatic motor responses. Vojta stimulation can activate motor cortical and subcortical areas as well as postural muscles. Pose estimation will be used to analyze human motion in stroke patients. The study will identify if there is significant difference in the comparative effects of Vojta therapy in addition to routine physical therapy on posture, trunk control and upper extremity motor function in sub-acute stroke patients

Vojta therapy can be used in the early stages of stroke patients' rehabilitation because acute stroke patients are characterized by a disruption in their capacity to react to changes in body posture, necessitating automatic postural adjustment. This study will determine the comparative effects of Vojta therapy in addition to routine physical therapy on posture, trunk control and upper extremity motor function in patients with sub-acute stroke. Body angles will be measured used Vojta therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 45-65 years
• Both males and females
• First time subacute stroke (7 days post stroke to 3 months)
• Brunnstrom stage 1,2
• A confirmed CT scan for subacute ischemic stroke
• A hemiplegia with score of ≤2 of medical research council scale for muscle strength of the arm (MRCS)
• Premorbid modified Rankin scale score ≤ 3
• Stroke patient who can achieve supported standing
• Patients having NIHSS score 16-20 will be included
• Patient who can achieve sitting for 30 seconds

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe cognitive impairments that can hinder rehabilitation
• Limitations in communication due to aphasia
• Altered consciousness or dementia (Epple et al., 2020b)
• Patients suffering from postural hypotension