Effects of aerobic training on physical activity in people with stroke: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Individuals with stroke have low physical activity levels and spend high amount of time in low-energy expenditure activities.

Objective: To investigate the effects of aerobic treadmill training on physical activity levels and time spent in low-energy expenditure activities (primary outcomes), as well as on cardiorespiratory fitness, endurance, depression, mobility, quality of life and participation (secondary outcomes) after stroke.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial, with 22 adults with chronic stroke was performed. Experimental group: aerobic treadmill training at 60-80% of heart rate reserve.

Control group: outdoor-overground walking below 40% of heart rate reserve. Both groups: three 40 min sessions/week over 12 weeks. Outcomes were measured at baseline, post-training, and 16-week follow-up.

Results: No changes in the primary outcomes were found for any of the groups. The experimental group showed greater improvements in quality of life at 16-week follow-up (13 points;95% CI:3.5-23). Both groups improved depression (2.2 points;95% CI:0.01-4.3), endurance (Six-minute walk test:31 m;95% CI:5.6-57, Incremental shuttle-walk test:55 m;95% CI:3.8-107), and mobility (0.12 m/s;95% CI:0.02-0.2).

Conclusion: Aerobic treadmill training improved quality of life. Aerobic treadmill training or outdoor-overground walking improved depression, endurance and mobility. Further studies are needed to clarify the effects of aerobic training on physical activity levels and time spent in low-energy expenditure activities after stroke.