In a nutshell
This study investigated if an intense aerobic exercise of the legs while doing repetitive tasks with the arms could improve the quality of life of patients after a stroke. The study found that this exercise may improve the quality of life of these patients.
Some background
The aim of rehabilitation after stroke is to improve physical ability, restore health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and reduce depressive symptoms. Disability after a stoke can lead to feelings of social isolation and depression. Therefore, it is important to investigate how different rehabilitation techniques improve movement and independence and how they improve the quality of life and depressive symptoms.
A study has shown that intense aerobic exercise coupled with doing repetitive tasks (RTP) with the arms significantly improved physical ability in patients after stroke. Intense aerobic exercise involved 45-minutes on a home exercise bike with at fixed pace (also called “forced exercise” or “FE”). RTP involved a 45-minute session of 3-5 individually tailored tasks and a targeted 70-100 repetitions of each task.
It is not known if this combination of exercises can improve HRQOL and reduce depressive symptoms in patients after a stroke.
Methods & findings
This study included 40 participants. Patients were assigned to 3 groups. The first group did FE and RTP. The second group did voluntary exercise (VE) and RTP (VE involves 45-minute session on an exercise bike at a patient-selected pace). The third group did 45-minute stroke education (EDU) and RTP. All patients attended 24 sessions in total.
After 24 sessions, patients in the FE+RTP and the VE+RTP groups showed significant improvements in strength, mobility, hand function and ability to do normal daily activities (dressing, washing). In addition, the FE+RTP group showed significant improvements in memory, thinking, and higher percentage recovery from stroke. The HRQOL did not change in the EDU+RTP group.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that intense aerobic exercise coupled with RTP may improve HRQOL in patients after stroke.
The fine print
This study was very small and had a short follow-up period. Larger and longer-term studies are needed.
Published By :
Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
Date :
Dec 10, 2018
