OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between maximal exercise capacity and walking capacity in hemiplegic stroke patients. DESIGN: An uncontrolled observational study was conducted in the physical medicine and rehabilitation unit in an academic hospital. Participants were 21 hemiplegic stroke patients (18 men, 3 women; age, 18-70 yrs) whose stroke occurred >3 mos before the study and who could walk independently with or without walking aids. Main outcome measures were peak oxygen uptake, workload, walking capacity, and motor impairment. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between walking capacity (6-min-walk test) and both peak oxygen uptake (r=0.602, P=0.0032) and maximal power output (r=0.867, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic capacity and walking capacity are decreased in hemiplegic stroke patients and are correlated with each other. These results underscore the need for future studies, to confirm the role of fitness in relation to walking capacity, and to evaluate the benefit of integrating aerobic training into more traditional rehabilitation programs after stroke.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between maximal exercise capacity and walking capacity in hemiplegic strokepatients. DESIGN: An uncontrolled observational study was conducted in the physical medicine and rehabilitation unit in an academic hospital. Participants were 21 hemiplegic strokepatients (18 men, 3 women; age, 18-70 yrs) whose stroke occurred >3 mos before the study and who could walk independently with or without walking aids. Main outcome measures were peak oxygen uptake, workload, walking capacity, and motor impairment. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between walking capacity (6-min-walk test) and both peak oxygen uptake (r=0.602, P=0.0032) and maximal power output (r=0.867, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic capacity and walking capacity are decreased in hemiplegic strokepatients and are correlated with each other. These results underscore the need for future studies, to confirm the role of fitness in relation to walking capacity, and to evaluate the benefit of integrating aerobic training into more traditional rehabilitation programs after stroke.
Authors: Louis N Awad; Darcy S Reisman; Tamara R Wright; Margaret A Roos; Stuart A Binder-Macleod Journal: Top Stroke Rehabil Date: 2014 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 2.119
Authors: Judith E Deutsch; Mary Jane Myslinski; Michal Kafri; Richard Ranky; Mark Sivak; Constantinos Mavroidis; Jeffrey A Lewis Journal: J Neurol Phys Ther Date: 2013-09 Impact factor: 3.649