title: Feasibility of lower-limb muscle power training to enhance locomotor function poststroke.
abstract: Poststroke motor control is characterized by greatly reduced muscle power generation. To date, the extent to which muscle power limits walking performance or whether its remediation should be a primary component of locomotor rehabilitation has yet to be established. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and the effects of Poststroke Optimization of Walking using Explosive Resistance training, an intervention aimed at improving poststroke muscular and locomotor function. Twelve subjects (6-60 mo poststroke) participated in 24 training sessions (3 sessions/wk for 8 wk). Exercises included leg press, calf raises, and jump training, all performed at high concentric velocity, as well as trials of fast walking. We measured self-selected and fastest comfortable walking speeds as well as knee extensor and plantar flexor strength and power at pretraining, posttraining, and 8 wk follow-up time points. In addition, we also performed a number of clinical assessments commonly used in poststroke rehabilitation trials. Following training, significant improvements in lower-limb muscle strength and power were realized and accompanied by improvements in self-selected as well as fastest comfortable walking speeds. No changes in clinical assessments resulted from training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Research and.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Embry
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Katy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holthaus
authors.forename: Chris M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gregory
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005080:Exercise Test; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: exercise; locomotion; locomotor function; muscle; optimization of walking; poststroke; rehabilitation; strengthening; stroke; walking