Dose-Response effects of aerobic exercise training in stroke survivors

2007

James Rimmer
[email protected]
312-413-9651

Rimmer, J. H. , & Wang, E. (2005). Dose-Response effects of aerobic exercise training in stroke survivors. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 12, 17-30. Objective: To determine the dose-response relationships between intensity and duration of physical activity and aerobic capacity, aerobic economy, and functional status among persons with stroke. Design: Pre-post randomized experimental design. Setting: University-based exercise center. Participants: 25 subjects aged 24 to 76y with unilateral stroke (>6mo poststroke). Interventions: Subjects were assigned to 1 of 3 experimental conditions: (1) intensity-oriented exercise program, (2) duration-oriented exercise program, and (3) standard of care group. Main Outcome Measures: Peak V2, time to exhaustion, maximum workload, submaximal oxygen cost, blood pressure, heart rate, and lipid profile. Results: Both exercise groups showed significant gains in time to exhaustion (P<.01). The duration group also demonstrated a significant increase in maximum workload (P<.05). ANOVA showed a significant group by workload interaction (P<.05) for oxygen cost at a given submaximal workload. At a 40-W workload, both exercise groups (duration, intensity) displayed a lower oxygen cost (4%?15% reduction, respectively) from pre to post, while the standard of care group exhibited a higher oxygen cost (7% increase). Conclusions: Aerobic training should be an integral component of rehabilitation for stroke survivors. Key Words: Exercise; Rehabilitation; Stroke.

Peer-reviewed publications in scholarly journals Published/In Press

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