title: The effects of poststroke aerobic exercise on neuroplasticity: a systematic review of animal and clinical studies.
abstract: Aerobic exercise may be a catalyst to promote neuroplasticity and recovery following stroke; however, the optimal methods to measure neuroplasticity and the effects of training parameters have not been fully elucidated. We conducted a systematic review and synthesis of clinical trials and studies in animal models to determine (1) the extent to which aerobic exercise influences poststroke markers of neuroplasticity, (2) the optimal parameters of exercise required to induce beneficial effects, and (3) consistent outcomes in animal models that could help inform the design of future trials. Synthesized findings show that forced exercise at moderate to high intensity increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), nerve growth factor (NGF), and synaptogenesis in multiple brain regions. Dendritic branching was most responsive to moderate rather than intense training. Disparity between clinical stroke and stroke models (timing of initiation of exercise, age, gender) and clinically viable methods to measure neuroplasticity are some of the areas that should be addressed in future research.
authors.affiliation: Recovery and Performance Laboratory, Rehabilitation Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, Rm 400, L.A. Miller Centre, 100 Forest Rd., St. John's, NL, Canada, michelle.ploughman@med.mun.ca.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ploughman
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Glynn
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corbett
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor