One-legged bicycling as an assessment tool for patients with stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether one-legged bicycling correlates with muscle strength and thereby could work as an outcome measure for persons with stroke.


METHODS
The study comprised 29 men (age 35-65) with a first occurrence of stroke 6-35 months earlier. Each leg was evaluated separately. A ramp protocol was used (10 W/min), with continuous recording of the ventilatory uptake (Vo(2)) and heart rate. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to assess strength and endurance. Enzyme assays were performed on muscle biopsy samples.


RESULTS
The peak isometric strength and isokinetic strength of the paretic leg correlated with the max. W on the bicycle. The oxidative enzyme citrate synthase correlated with the workload for both legs on the bicycle and lactate dehydrogenase correlated with peak isometric strength in both legs.


CONCLUSIONS
The one-legged bicycle exercise test can be used to assess endurance in persons with a previous stroke as it correlates with dynamometer testing and muscle biopsies.
Sunnerhagen
K S
KS
The Arvid Carlsson Institute, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. ks.sunnerhagen@neuro.gu.se
Mattsson
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010291:Paresis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase