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Aerobic exercise programs may improve endurance, walking after stroke

Date:
August 14, 2019
Source:
American Heart Association
Summary:
Stroke survivors who completed a group-based aerobic exercise program, like cardiac rehabilitation, significantly improved their endurance and walking capacity regardless of time since stroke. Mixed forms of aerobic activity and walking had the most benefit for stroke survivors.
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Stroke survivors who completed group-based aerobic exercise programs similar in design and duration to cardiac rehabilitation programs significantly improved their aerobic endurance and walking ability, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Stroke remains the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and physical therapy is often prescribed to improve physical impairments after stroke. Most current rehabilitation care following stroke has little to no focus on aerobic fitness, and when continued rehabilitation activity is suggested patients often fail to keep active without any support or guidance, according to an analysis of 19 published studies to assess the impact of aerobic exercise programs on endurance and walking ability after stroke.

"The physical therapy we currently provide to patients after a stroke focuses more on improving the ability to move and move well rather than on increasing how far and long you can move," said Elizabeth Regan, DPT, study lead author, and Ph.D. candidate in Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina. "It doesn't matter how well you can walk if your endurance level keeps you at home."

Nearly 500 adults average ages between 54-71 completed aerobic exercise programs similar in structure to cardiac rehabilitation. Participants attended two to three sessions per week for about three months. Of nearly two dozen different exercise groups, walking was the most common type of activity, followed by stationary cycling and then mixed mode aerobic exercise. Physical abilities were tested before and after the intervention.

Looking at results by activity type, researchers found:

  • Mixed aerobic activity provides the best result (4 treatment groups) followed by walking (12 treatment groups).
  • Cycling or recumbent stepping (machine that allows stepping while in seated position) while still significant was the least effective (7 treatment groups).
  • Overall, participants significantly improved their endurance level and walking speed.
  • On average, participants walked almost half the size of a football field farther during a six-minute walking test. Participants with mild movement impairments benefited the most.

"These benefits were realized regardless of how long it had been since their stroke," Regan said. "Our analysis included stroke survivors across a wide range, from less than six months to greater than a year since their stroke, and the benefits were seen whether they started an aerobic exercise program one month or one year after having a stroke."

"Cardiac rehab programs may be a viable option for patients after a stroke who have health risks and endurance losses similar to traditional cardiac rehab participants," said Stacy Fritz, Ph.D., PT, the study's co-author and associate professor of exercise science in the Physical Therapy Program at the University of South Carolina. "Almost every hospital has a cardiac rehab program, so it's an existing platform that could be used for stroke survivors. Funneling patients with stroke into these existing programs may be an easy, cost-effective solution with long-term benefits."

While this study suggests group-based aerobic exercise programs improve health and endurance in stroke survivors, no control group analysis was performed for results comparison. Limited follow-up data were available to determine whether the health benefits persisted.


Story Source:

Materials provided by American Heart Association. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Elizabeth W. Regan, Reed Handlery, Michael W. Beets, Stacy L. Fritz. Are Aerobic Programs Similar in Design to Cardiac Rehabilitation Beneficial for Survivors of Stroke? A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis. Journal of the American Heart Association, 2019; 8 (16) DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.119.012761

Cite This Page:

American Heart Association. "Aerobic exercise programs may improve endurance, walking after stroke." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 August 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190814081158.htm>.
American Heart Association. (2019, August 14). Aerobic exercise programs may improve endurance, walking after stroke. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190814081158.htm
American Heart Association. "Aerobic exercise programs may improve endurance, walking after stroke." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190814081158.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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