Abstract: BACKGROUND: Pseudobulbar palsy is a common complication in stroke patients. Additionally, patients often experience reduced trunk core muscle control and weakened voluntary cough reflexes. Current clinical treatments for pseudobulbar palsy predominantly focus on speech and swallowing rehabilitation, often neglecting systematic interventions for balance, motor function, and cough expectoration.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of abdominal electrical stimulation combined with core stability training on balance, motor function, and cough ability in stroke patients with pseudobulbar palsy.
METHODS: Sixty patients with post-stroke pseudobulbar palsy from the Rehabilitation Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group, with 30 patients in each group. Both groups received basic treatment and conventional rehabilitation training. The control group additionally underwent core stability training (30 minutes as a session, once a day, six sessions per week, for 2 weeks), while the experimental group received abdominal electrical stimulation (30 minutes as a session, once a day, six sessions per week, for 2 weeks) in addition to the control group’s treatment. Before and after 2 weeks of treatment, the Berg Balance Scale, Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Lower Extremity, Modified Barthel Index, and Semiquantitative Cough Strength Score were evaluated. Abdominal muscle thickness ratio of the external oblique, internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles was assessed using ultrasound, and cough peak flow was measured via pulmonary function testing.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After 2 weeks of treatment, both groups showed improvements in the Berg Balance Scale, Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Lower Extremity, Modified Barthel Index, and Semiquantitative Cough Strength scores, and abdominal muscle thickness ratio compared with pre-treatment levels, with the experimental group demonstrating significantly greater improvements than the control group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that abdominal electrical stimulation combined with core stability training is superior to the control group in improving patients' balance function, lower limb motor function, activities of daily living, cough ability, and core muscle activation, demonstrating significant clinical efficacy. This combined intervention provides effective support for the overall rehabilitation of patients with pseudobulbar palsy.

Key words: pseudobulbar palsy, stroke, abdominal electrical stimulation, core stability training, balance, cough function, musculoskeletal ultrasound