Background: Stroke impairs postural control and hip abductor function. Closed Kinetic Chain (CKC) exercise emphasizes weight-bearing control, whereas Open Kinetic Chain (OKC) exercise emphasizes isolated strengthening. Objectives: To compare CKC, OKC, and combined hip abductor strengthening exercises on static balance and gait ability in chronic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty participants were randomly assigned to CKC (n=10), OKC (n=10), or combined exercise (n=10) groups. Trained three times weekly for eight weeks. Static balance was assessed using Center of Pressure (COP) variables from the HUR BT4 system, including C90 area (90% confidence circle area) and standard deviation (STD) velocity, and gait ability was evaluated using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT). Results: With eyes open, C90 area and trace length decreased in the CKC and combined groups (P<.05), and trace length improved more in the combined than the OKC group (P<.05). With eyes closed, all groups showed reductions in C90 area, trace length, and STD velocity (P<.05), with greater improvement in selected parameters in the combined group. Gait speed improved significantly in the CKC and combined groups (P<.05). Conclusion: CKC-based and combined exercises improved static balance and gait ability. CKC-based training may be an option for improving weightbearing control and gait in stroke rehabilitation.

INTRODUCTION
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
    Subjects
    Procedure
    Intervention
    Outcome measures
    Data and Statistical Analysis
RESULTS
    Static balance (COP): Eyes-open
    Static balance (COP): Eyes-closed
    Gait ability
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
REFERENCES

• Seonghwan Lee(Department of Physical Therapy, Gangseobarunsesang Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea)
• Muryeol Lee(Department of Physical Therapy, Namseoul University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea)
• Hyewon Park(Department of Physical Therapy, Namseoul University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea)
• Mina Gim(Department of Physical Therapy, Namseoul University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea) Corresponding author
• Ilhwan Ahn(Department of Sports Rehabilitation, Shingu University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea)