Original Article The effects of Bobath-based trunk exercises on trunk control, functional capacity, balance, and gait: a pilot randomized controlled trial Muhammed Kılınc  , Fatma Avcu, Ozge Onursal, Ender Ayvat, Cevher Savcun Demirci, Sibel Aksu Yildirim Hacettepe University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Bobath-based individually designed trunk exercises on trunk control, upper and lower extremity function, and walking and balance in stroke patients. The main aim of treatment was to eliminate individual trunk impairments during various patient functions. Methods: The study was planned as an assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. A total of 22 patients volunteered to participate in the study. Trunk function, functional capacity, and gait were assessed with the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), stroke rehabilitation assessment of movement (STREAM), and a 10-m walking test, respectively. The Berg Balance Test (BBT), functional reach (FR), and timed up-and-go (TUG) tests were used to evaluate balance. After the initial assessment, the patients were divided randomly into two groups, the study group (12 patients) and the control group (10 patients). The mean age of the patients in the study group was 55.91 years (duration of stroke 58.66 months) and that of the control group was 54.00 years (duration of stroke 67.20 months). Individual training programs were determined for the patients in the study group, taking into consideration their evaluation results; and strengthening, stretching, range of motion, and mat exercises were determined for the control group according to their functional level. The participants in both groups were taken into the physiotherapy program for 12 weeks, 3 days a week for 1 hour a day. Results: In group analyses, both groups showed improvement in STREAM, TIS, and TUG tests. Only the study group produced significant gains in the BBT, FR, and 10 m walking tests (Pv0.05). According to the pre- and post-treatment results, no significant difference was observed in any of the evaluated parameters between the two groups (Pw0.05). Conclusion: Individually developed exercise programs in the Bobath concept improve trunk performance, balance, and walking ability in stroke patients more than do conventional exercises. Keywords: Stroke rehabilitation, Trunk training, Bobath concept, Individually designed exercises Introduction Trunk control is one of the most important indi- cators of functional recovery after stroke. There is a strong correlation between trunk performance and balance, gait, and functional skills in stroke patients. 1,2 Weakness and/or increased tone in the trunk muscles, increase in postural sway, failure of dynamic stability, and difficulties in transferring weight all negatively affect the activity performance of patients. 3 Today, one of the preferred methods of stroke rehabilitation is neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT), also known as the Bobath concept. The trunk is at the heart of the treatment program for hemiplegia using the Bobath concept. With fine trunk control and proper weight transfer, it is poss- ible to secure and protect the body in an upright pos- ture and in the achievement of distal functional movement 3 . The most important aspect of the relationship between trunk control and its function is the dynamic stabilization of the trunk with regard to different parts of the body. The quality of movement in the head and limbs is directly related to proximal stability. 3,4 Correspondence to: Muhammed Kılınc  , Hacettepe University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Samanpazari 06100, Ankara, Turkey. Email: muhammedkilinc@yahoo.com ß W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2015 DOI 10.1179/1945511915Y.0000000011 Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation 2015 VOL. 00 NO.0 1