Adapted Low Intensity Ergometer Aerobic Training for Early and Severely Impaired Stroke Survivors: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial to Explore Its Feasibility and Efficacy

Abstract

[Purpose] To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of adapted low intensity ergometer aerobic training for early and severely impaired stroke survivors. [Subjects] The subjects were forty-eight early stroke survivors. [Methods] Eligible subjects were recruited and randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. Both groups participated in comprehensive rehabilitation training. Low intensity aerobic training was only performed by the experimental group. Outcome measures were the Fugl-Meyer motor score, Barthel index, exercise test time, peak heart rate, plasma glucose level and serum lipid profiles. [Results] Patients in the experimental group finished 88.6% of the total aerobic training sessions prescribed. In compliant participants (adherence≥80%), aerobic training significantly improved the Barthel index (from 40.1±21.1 to 79.2±14.2), Fugl-Meyer motor score (from 26.4±19.4 to 45.4±12.7), exercise test time (from 12.2±3.62 min to 13.9±3.6 min), 2-hour glucose level (from 9.22±1.16 mmol/L to 7.21±1.36 mmol/L) and homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistence index (from 1.72±1.01 to 1.28±0.88). [Conclusion] Preliminary findings suggest that early and severely impaired stroke patients may benefit from low intensity ergometer aerobic training.

Physical fitness interventions for nonambulatory stroke survivors: A mixed‐methods systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Thirty‐four reports, representing 33 studies (Batcho, Stoquart, & Thonnard, ; Chang, Kim, Huh, Lee, & Kim, ; Cho, Park, Lee, Park, & Kim, ; Dean et al., ; Demers & McKinley, ; Franceschini et al., ; Hesse, Bardeleben, Werner, & Waldner, ; Hesse, Bertelt, Schaffrin, Malezic, & Mauritz, ; Hesse, Waldner, & Tomelleri, ; Hesse et al., ; Husemann, Muller, Krewer, Heller, & Koenig, ; Lennon, Carey, Gaffney, Stephenson, & Blake, ; Leroux, ; Mayr et al., ; Mehrholz, Rutte, & Pohl, ; Morone et al., ; Ng, Tong, & Li, ; Ochi, Wada, Saeki, & Hachisuka, ; Plummer et al., ; Potempa et al., ; Richards et al., ; Rosendahl et al., ; Shea & Moriello, ; Stoller et al., ; Teixeira da Cunha Filho et al., , ; Tong, Ng, & Li, ; Tsaih, Shih, & Hu, ; Vidoni, Tull, & Kluding, ; Wang, Wang, Fan, Lu, & Wang, ; Wang, Wang, Fan, Wenjun, et al., ; White, Bynon, Marquez, Sweetapple, & Pollack, ; Yagura, Hatakenaka, & Miyai, ; Yang et al., ), were included in the review (Figure ).…”

“…Of the 33 studies included, 31 were quantitative, of which 18 were RCTs (Chang et al., ; Dean et al., ; Franceschini et al., ; Husemann et al., ; Lennon et al., ; Morone et al., ; Ng et al., ; Ochi et al., ; Potempa et al., ; Richards et al., ; Rosendahl et al., ; Stoller et al., ; Teixeira da Cunha Filho et al., , ; Tong et al., ; Tsaih et al., ; Wang et al., , ; Yagura et al., ), three were randomized crossover studies (Cho et al., ; Mayr et al., ; Yang et al., ), four were cohort studies (Batcho et al., ; Hesse et al., ; Leroux, ; Plummer et al., ), and five were case studies (Hesse et al., , ; Mehrholz et al., ; Shea & Moriello, ; Vidoni et al., ). Hesse et al.…”

“…Of the 31 quantitative studies, nine (29%) were classified as “strong” (Chang et al., ; Franceschini et al., ; Hesse et al., ; Ng et al., ; Ochi et al., ; Stoller et al., ; Wang et al., , ; Yang et al., ) and 14 (45%) as “moderate” (Batcho et al., ; Cho et al., ; Dean et al., ; Hesse et al., , ; Husemann et al., ; Lennon et al., ; Leroux, ; Mayr et al., ; Mehrholz et al., ; Morone et al., ; Plummer et al., ; Rosendahl et al., ; Teixeira da Cunha Filho et al., , ), while eight (26%) were rated as “weak” (Hesse et al., ; Potempa et al., ; Richards et al., ; Shea & Moriello, ; Tong et al., ; Tsaih et al., ; Vidoni et al., ; Yagura et al., ; Table ). Of the 18 RCTs, 11 used an intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis (Dean et al., ; Franceschini et al., ; Husemann et al., ; Lennon et al., ; Morone et al., ; Ng et al., ; Ochi et al., ; Rosendahl et al., ; Stoller et al., ; Tong et al., ; Wang et al., ) and six did not (Chang et al., ; Richards et al., ; Teixeira da Cunha Filho et al., , ; Tsaih et al., ; Wang et al., ; Yagura et al., ), while reporting was unclear in one RCT (Potempa et al., ).…”

Programa de prevención y rehabilitación cardiaca: herramienta útil y necesaria en el tratamiento del ataque cerebrovascular

“…Por esta razón, la propuesta actual es considerar el modelo de rehabilitación cardiaca como una estrategia de prevención secundaria en la atención del ACV, pues ha demostrado de manera significativa un impacto positivo en la reducción de la morbimortalidad, al lograr uno de los objetivos más importantes en el tratamiento de estos pacientes: la mejoría notoria en la percepción de su calidad de vida 12 .…”

Prevention and Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: useful and necessary tool in the treatment after stroke

“…12 This can be achieved by being aware of the existence of this strategy and its implementation. I therefore consider that the key challenge is to create well trained interdisciplinary health teams, able to treat people with physical, communicative, sensory, cognitive disability and cardiovascular involvement.…”