Longitudinal changes in exercise capacity after stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if stroke patients without specific aerobic training experience a change in the first 6 months after stroke.


METHODS
Descriptive, longitudinal study with repeated measures of exercise capacity at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after stroke.


METHODS
Exercise testing laboratory in a tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
Consecutive sample of 25 patients (mean age +/- standard deviation, 64.1+/-13.6 y) 1 month after first ischemic stroke.


METHODS
Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Peak oxygen consumption (Vo(2)peak) was measured by open-circuit spirometry during maximal effort treadmill walking with 15% body-weight support.


RESULTS
Mean Vo(2)peak increased from 14.8+/-5.3 mL x kg(-1). min(-1) at 1 month to 17.3+/-7.0 mL x kg(-1).min(-1) at 6 months after stroke (P=.003) or from 61.7%+/-16% to 71.3%+/-23% of age- and sex-related normative values for sedentary healthy adults (P=.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite improvements in Vo(2)peak and other indices of cardiovascular training between 1 and 6 months poststroke, substantial limitations in exercise capacity persisted. Further study is needed to determine the extent to which these limitations can be modified through aerobic conditioning.
School of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. m.mackay-lyons@dal.ca
Marilyn J
MJ
Mackay-Lyons
Lydia
L
Makrides
D000367:Age Factors; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation