title: Preliminary study of exercise capacity in post-acute stroke survivors.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and exercise capacity of cycle ergometry exercise testing and exercise performance in patients with post-acute stroke. Nineteen male patients (mean age, 62.7 +/- 9.2 years) with a post stroke interval of 9.9 +/- 2.0 days underwent symptom- limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Peak exercise capacity was measured by open-circuit spirometry during standard upright ergometer cycling. The mean peak oxygen uptake was 11.8 mL/kg/min, peak heart rate with age-predicted maximal heart rate was 67.9 +/- 3.4%, and peak oxygen pulse was 7.5 mL/beat. The anaerobic threshold was achieved with a mean peak oxygen uptake of 73.4%. Mean peak minute ventilation was 42.1 L/min, and ventilatory reserve was 48.1 +/- 16.8%. Our findings confirm that cycle ergometry exercise testing is feasible and exercise capacity is compromised in post-acute stroke survivors within 2 weeks after stroke. Respiratory impairments do not appear to contribute to the reduced exercise capacity post stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: June-Kai
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tien-Wen
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chia-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mao-Hsiung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D003710:Demography; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017741:Survivors