Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| [b] École de Réadaptation, Université de Montréal (UdeM), and Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation (CRIR), Institut universitaire sur la réadaptation en déficience physique de Montréal (IURDPM), CIUSSS Centre-sud-de-l’Ile-de-Montréal, Montréal, Canada
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Professor Christina DCM Faria, PT, PhD, Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antonio Carlos, 6627 – Campus Pampulha, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte – Minas Gerias, Brazil. Tel./Fax: +31 3409 4783; E-mails: cdcmf@ufmg.br; chrismoraisf@yahoo.com.
Abstract: 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.
