Work

Body weight–supported sitting training after stroke: A pilot study of electromyographic changes in trunk symmetry and unsupported sitting in eight patients

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction Patients with severe impairment after stroke often cannot practice unsupported upright sitting; therefore, evidence for structured sitting interventions in this population is limited. Body weight–supported sitting training (BWSST) uses partial unloading to enable upright sitting practice. We summarized feasibility and safety observations and described pre-post changes in trunk muscle activity symmetry and unsupported sitting ability after a single BWSST session. Materials and methods This single-center, same-day, pre-post pilot study included eight patients within 30 days after stroke who were unable to maintain unsupported sitting for 30 s without upper-limb support or assistance during an assessment performed ≥7 days after stroke. BWSST was performed using a pneumatic unloading device. Surface electromyography (EMG) of the bilateral external oblique abdominal (EOA) and lumbar erector spinae (ES) muscles was recorded. Primary outcomes were the symmetry index (SI) of the EOA (EOA-SI) and ES (ES-SI) during a standardized static sitting trial. Results All participants contributed complete paired data for the primary outcomes. No immediate adverse events were observed. Two participants achieved 30 s of unsupported sitting immediately after the BWSST session. The EOA-SI showed a descriptive within-session change. The ES-SI showed no clear group-level pre-post shift. Conclusions Complete paired pre-post EMG data were obtained, and no immediate adverse events were observed. Pre-post observations showed a descriptive within-session change in EOA-SI. In addition, two of eight participants attained 30 s of unsupported sitting immediately after the BWSST session, although this estimate was highly uncertain in this very small pilot sample.

Source: Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2026.05.039