Exercise-induced changes in cardiovascular function after stroke: a randomized controlled trial

Cardiovascular co-morbidities are prevalent after stroke, with heart disease, hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance present in the majority of cases. Exercise has the potential to mediate cardiovascular risk factors commonly present in people with stroke. This single-blinded randomized controlled trial compared the effects of high versus low intensity exercise on fitness, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiac function after stroke.

Fifty participants (age 50–80 y, >1 y post-stroke) were randomized to a high-intensity Aerobic Exercise (AE) or low-intensity non-aerobic Balance/Flexibility (BF) program (6 months, 3 60-min sessions/week). Outcomes assessed by VO₂peak (primary outcome), arterial stiffness, ambulatory capacity, hemodynamics and cardiac function using echocardiography, and lipid, glucose and homocysteine levels. Assessors were blinded to group allocation. Read More