title: Effect of intensive outpatient physical training on gait performance and cardiovascular health in people with hemiparesis after stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke can result in severe motor deficits, and many people who have survived a stroke have poor cardiovascular fitness, with potentially disabling effects on daily life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of intensive physical training on gait performance and cardiovascular health parameters in people with stroke in the chronic stage.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single-group, pretest-posttest experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen people with hemiparesis after cerebrovascular injury (mean age=58.4 years, mean time since injury=25 months) participated in a 12-week training intervention, 5 times per week for 1.5 hours per session. The intervention consisted of high-intensity, body-weight-supported treadmill training; progressive resistance strength training; and aerobic exercise. The main outcome measures were gait performance (Six-Minute Walk Test, 10-Meter Walk Test, and aerobic capacity) and parameters of cardiovascular health (systolic and diastolic blood pressures, body mass index, and resting heart rate).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements in all main outcome parameters were observed in response to the intervention. Gait speed during the Six-Minute Walk Test increased 62%, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased 10% and 11%, respectively. Weekly testing of walking speed showed that most of the increase in the walking speed occurred in the first 8 weeks of training. Correlation analyses showed that improvements were unrelated to age, chronicity, or level of functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-intensity physical training for people with stroke in the chronic stage increased walking speed regardless of chronicity, age, or level of functioning. Further studies should investigate the intervention duration needed to reach the full potential of gait recovery.
authors.affiliation: Center for Rehabilitation of Brain Injury, University of Copenhagen, Amagerfaelledveg 56A, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark. joergen@cfh.ku.dk
authors.forename: Jørgen Roed
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Daniel Thue
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Bech-Pedersen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zeeman
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: Lars L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schönberger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology