BACKGROUND: Studies demonstrate the benefits of aerobic cycling training in subacute and chronic stroke subjects, but there is a lack in the literature about its effects on the acute phase. OBJECTIVE: Verify the effects of aerobic cycling training on lower limbs muscle strength, gait speed, balance, mobility and functionality of acute stroke subjects. METHODS: Control group (CG) performed conventional physiotherapy twice a day and the intervention group (IG) performed a conventional physiotherapy and a cycle ergometer session, for five consecutive days. Subjects were assessed for muscle strength by a digital dynamometer, gait speed by the 10-meter-walk-test, balance by the Berg Balance Scale, mobility by the ICU-Mobility-Scale and functionality by the Perme Score. RESULTS: Twenty subjects were enrolled in the study, 10 in the CG and 10 in the IG. Lower limbs muscle strength, the main endpoint, was better in the IG compared to the CG. The same was found in the secondary endpoints. The intragroup analysis was also positive for the CG in the mobility and functionality. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional physiotherapy combined with cycling exercise showed better results in the improvement of muscle strength of lower limbs, mobility and functionality of subjects who suffered from acute stroke.

BACKGROUND: Studies demonstrate the benefits of upper limbs cycle ergometer (ULCE) in subacute and chronic stroke subjects, but the literature still needs to explore the acute phase of the disease. OBJECTIVE: Verify the effects of ULCE on muscular strength, trunk control and independence of post-stroke subjects in hospital acute phase. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial participants were allocated into two groups. The control group (CG) performed two daily sessions of conventional physiotherapy, while the intervention group (IG) had one daily session of conventional physiotherapy and one of ULCE. The interventions were carried out for 20 minutes for five days. Both groups were assessed before and after the treatment for upper limbs strength by manual dynamometer, trunk control by Trunk Impairment Scale and level of independence by the Modified Rankin Scale. RESULTS: Twenty subjects with mean ages of 63.5±4.5 were enrolled. There was a significant intra-group difference of palmar grip, shoulder abductors, elbow flexor and wrist extensor strength, trunk control and functional independence only in IG. Inter-group difference for all variables showed superiority in IG. CONCLUSIONS: ULCE is an effective device for increasing muscle strength, trunk control and consequently improving the independence of post-stroke subjects in the acute hospital phase.

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi propor um protocolo de ensaio clínico randomizado para avaliar o efeito da reabilitação robótica sobre a funcionalidade de pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) subagudo. Trata-se de um protocolo de um ensaio clínico randomizado que será desenvolvido no hospital e centro de reabilitação do Pavilhão Pereira Filho da Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre (ISCMPA). Quarenta pacientes com AVC, de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 18 e 85 anos e que apresentem hemiparesia ou fraqueza muscular (Medical Research Council - MRC <48 pontos) serão divididos aleatoriamente em grupo controle ou grupo de intervenção. O grupo de intervenção será aquele que realizará reabilitação robótica utilizando equipamento Erigo®, além da fisioterapia convencional, e o grupo controle receberá fisioterapia convencional por meio de exercícios com movimentos semelhantes aos realizados no robô. As intervenções ocorrerão todos os dias na fase hospitalar e, após a alta, três vezes por semana, totalizando aproximadamente 18 sessões. A funcionalidade será considerada o desfecho primário do estudo e será avaliada por meio da escala de Fugl-Meyer. Consideramos como desfechos secundários a força muscular (MRC e teste de repetição máxima), espasticidade (escala de Ashworth modificada), arquitetura do músculo quadríceps e ecogenicidade (ultrassom), mobilidade (teste timed up and go), grau de incapacidade e dependência (escala de Rankin e de medida de independência funcional), qualidade de vida (questionário EQ-5D), repercussões cardiorrespiratórias (monitoramento de sinais vitais), tempo de internação (em dias) e mortalidade (número de óbitos). Os grupos serão avaliados antes das intervenções, após a décima sessão e ao final de seis semanas de tratamento ou 18 sessões.