title: Effect of high aerobic intensity interval treadmill walking in people with chronic stroke: a pilot study with one year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the physiological and functional responses from high aerobic intensity treadmill walking in 4 x 4-minute intervals in people with chronic stroke and to evaluate the feasibility of this mode of training.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a baseline control trial with 1 year follow-up in an outpatient rehabilitation setting at a university hospital. Eight people with chronic stroke participated in and completed the study. Their mean age was 48.9 (± 10.6) years. We tested uphill treadmill walking in 4 x 4-minute work periods at an intensity between 85% and 95% of peak heart rate from initial maximal treadmill testing. There were 3-minute active breaks between the intervals. The main outcome measures were peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and walking economy (Cw). Overall compliance and adverse events determine the feasibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VO2peak increased from 2.32 (± 0.44) to 2.60 (± 0.55) L • min-1 post training (P = .003). Walking economy (Cw) improved from 1.12 (± 0.15) to 1.04 (± 0.18) L • min-1 (P = .043). At 1 year follow-up, VO2peak was 2.59 (±0.58) L • min -1 and was not significantly different from posttraining measurement (P = 1.00). Cw was 1.19 (± 0.15) L • min-1 at 1 year follow-up and thus was worse than post training (P = .023). Functional improvements were found in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) (P = .020), 10-meter walk test (10MWT) (P = .032), and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) (P = .002) at post tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High aerobic intensity interval treadmill walking significantly increased VO2peak and improved Cw in these subjects. The training was feasible and may have important implications for cardiovascular health and future rehabilitation programs in this population.
authors: Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, FacNorwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors: Tor Ivar
authors: TI
authors: Gjellesvik
authors: Berit
authors: B
authors: Brurok
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Hoff
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Tørhaug
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Helgerud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*