Objective: To examine the trunk performance during static and dynamic sitting postural control, and to find an association with functional balance such as standing and stepping early after stroke., Participants and setting: Fifty-nine stroke patients (range 2-45 days) were evaluated once for trunk performance and functional balance by same observer in an in-patient stroke rehabilitation centre, Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Mangalore, Manipal University., Measures: Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and its subscales; Brunel Balance Assessment (BBA) and its sub-sections., Results: Stroke participants had a mean (SD) score of 14.5 (3.8) and 7 (3) on TIS and BBA. The Karl Pearson Correlation Coefficients was used to compare the association of TIS and its subscales, with BBA and standing, stepping measures, and found to be moderate and high correlation among the measures. The correlation was significant at the level of R value > 0.6 (P< 0.01)., Conclusion: Static and dynamic sitting postural control is affected in stroke patients as a result of poor selective trunk muscle control. In addition, trunk performance in sitting influences the balance performance in standing and stepping early after stroke.  

Key Words: Stroke, Postural Control, Trunk Performance, Balance