Brain Neurorehabil.  2011 Mar;4(1):50-56. 10.12786/bn.2011.4.1.50.

The Effect of Treadmill Aerobic Exercise in Stroke Patients

• Kim HC
• Park SW
• Yoo HC
• Choi KI
• Yim YL
• Kim MJ

• KMID: 1445609
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12786/bn.2011.4.1.50

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of treadmill aerobic exercise for eight weeks on cardiopulmonary fitness and functional mobility in stroke patients METHOD: Twenty one stroke patients who could walk independently and had MMSE score of 24 or higher were included. We used maximal exercise test by means of modified Harbor protocol before and after eight weeks' treadmill aerobic exercise. We monitored patients' status with EKG, heart rate, blood pressure and Borg rating of perceived exertion, and measured maximal O2 consumption, maximal heart rate, blood pressure, minute ventilation, rate pressure product and respiratory exchange ratio during maximal exercise test. We also assessed functional mobility by Fugl-Meyer assessment of lower extremity, Berg balance scale, five times sit to stand test, timed up & go test, dynamic gait index scale, activities-specific balance confidence scale and Korean-modified Barthel index before and after 8 weeks' training.
RESULTS
Twenty one patients completed treadmill aerobic exercise training. After eight weeks' treadmill aerobic exercise, the cardiopulmonary fitness, measured by maximal O2 consumption, maximal heart rate, minute ventilation, systolic blood pressure, functional mobility measured by Fugl-Meyer assessment of lower extremity, Berg balance scale, five times sit to stand test, timed up & go test, dynamic gait index scale, activities-specific balance confidence scale and Korean-modified Barthel index showed statistically significant improvement (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Eight weeks' treadmill aerobic exercise improved the cardiopulmonary fitness and functional mobility in ambulatory stroke patients.

Keyword

aerobic exercise; exercise test; rehabilitation; stroke

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure
Electrocardiography
Exercise
Exercise Test
Gait
Heart Rate
Humans
Lower Extremity
Stroke
Ventilation

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