Towards better understanding gait performance in people with stroke and the influence of trunk rehabilitation on gait recovery.

Previous work from the stroke rehabilitation research group in the area of trunk rehabilitation delivered the Trunk Impairment Scale, a standardized and globally used clinical measurement tool to assess trunk function after stroke in clinical practice and research. Furthermore, it was established that assessment of trunk function early after stroke is a significant and independent predictor of functional outcome at six months. Although therapeutic approaches for improving trunk function post stroke exist, this research project will focus on novel approaches for trunk rehabilitation in the different phases after stroke. Recent advances in the field of rehabilitation technology provide opportunities for further embedding trunk-oriented therapy in the rehabilitation of people post stroke and will be investigated in this project, aimed at providing proof-of-principle and preliminary evidence towards effectiveness for improving trunk, motor and functional outcome.