Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 3 , Pages 407-412, March 2009

A Preliminary Study to Examine the Effects of Aerobic and Therapeutic (Nonaerobic) Exercise on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Coronary Risk Reduction in Stroke Survivors

  • James H. Rimmer, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to James H. Rimmer, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago, Dept of Disability and Human Development, 1640 W Roosevelt Rd (M/C 626), Chicago, IL 60608-6904
    • ,
  • Amy E. Rauworth, MS

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Edward C. Wang, PhD

      Affiliations

    • College of Nursing, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Terry L. Nicola, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Bernadette Hill, MS, RN

      Affiliations

    • Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn, IL

Abstract 

Rimmer JH, Rauworth AE, Wang EC, Nicola TL, Hill B. A preliminary study to examine the effects of aerobic and therapeutic (nonaerobic) exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness and coronary risk reduction in stroke survivors.

Objectives

To compare the effects of 3 different exercise training regimens on cardiorespiratory fitness and coronary risk factor reduction in subjects with unilateral stroke.

Design

A cluster assignment by residential location repeated-measures design.

Setting

University-based medical center.

Participants

Fifty-five subjects with unilateral ischemic stroke were assigned to the following groups: intensity (n=18), duration (n=19), and therapeutic exercise (n=18).

Intervention

A 14-week intervention with subjects randomized to 1 of 3 interventions: (1) moderate intensity, shorter duration (MISD) exercise (gradually increasing exercise intensity while keeping exercise duration constant at 30 min), (2) low-intensity, longer duration (LILD) exercise (gradually increasing duration to 60 min while keeping exercise intensity constant), or (3) conventional therapeutic exercise (TE) consisting mainly of strength, balance, and range of motion activities. All groups exercised 3 days per week.

Main Outcome Measures

Peak oxygen consumption (Vo2peak), submaximal oxygen consumption (V̇o2), lipid panel, and resting blood pressure.

Results

The MISD group attained more favorable effects on systolic (P<.04) and diastolic blood pressure (P<.002) and total cholesterol (TC) (P<.036) compared with LILD and TE groups. Both MISD (P<.029) and LILD (P<.045) showed significant reductions in triglycerides compared with TE (P<.029). There was no significant change in Vo2peak and submaximal V̇o2 in any of the groups.

Conclusions

Overall, both MISD and LILD conditions achieved greater clinical and significant gains in coronary risk reduction compared with TE.

Key Words: Cerebrovascular accident, Coronary circulation, Exercise, Rehabilitation, Stroke

List of Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index, ECG, electrocardiographic, ES, effect size, HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HRR, heart rate reserve, LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LILD, lower intensity, longer duration, MISD, moderate intensity, shorter duration, ROM, range of motion, TC, total cholesterol, TE, therapeutic exercise, TG, triglycerides, Vo2peak, peak oxygen consumption, V̇o2, oxygen consumption

 

 Supported in part by the National Institutes of Health National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (grant no. HHS5R21HD40988).

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(08)01698-5

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2008.07.032

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 3 , Pages 407-412, March 2009

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