title: Bicycle ergometry in subacute-stroke survivors: feasibility, safety, and exercise performance.
abstract: This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and findings from a protocol for exercise-bicycle ergometry in subacute-stroke survivors. Of 117 eligible candidates, 14 could not perform the test and 3 discontinued because of cardiac safety criteria. In the 100 completed tests, peak heart rate was 116 +/- 19.1 beats/min; peak VO(2) was 11.4 +/- 3.7 ml x kg x min(-1), peak METs were 3.3 +/- 0.91, exercise duration was 5.1 +/- 2.84 min, and Borg score was 14 +/- 2.6. Among 71 tests, anaerobic threshold was achieved in 3.0 +/- 1.7 min with a VO(2) of 8.6 +/- 1.7 ml x kg x min(-1). After screening, this protocol is feasible and safe in subacute-stroke survivors with mild to moderate deficits. These stroke survivors have severely limited functional exercise capacity. Research and clinical practice in stroke rehabilitation should incorporate more comprehensive evaluation and treatment of endurance limitations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, USA.
authors.forename: Joni S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Studenski
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gollub
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whitman
authors.forename: Subashan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.forename: Sue Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Pamela W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012449:Safety; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017741:Survivors