Physical fitness training for stroke patients

Effects of Task-Oriented Circuit Class Training on Physical Fitness of Stroke Survivors

“…However, cardiovascular fitness did not improve in the NCCTG. Brazzelli et al (2011) reported that physical fitness training may reduce blood pressure, improve vascular risk factors as well as reduce mortality in coronary heart disease. demonstrated that endurance exercise beneficially affects ambulatory blood pressure.…”

“…Following stroke, motor deficits in the upper and lower extremities of the affected body side are the major noticeable impairments with associated limitations and alterations in functional mobility and task performance (Brazzelli et al, 2011;Danielsson et al, 2012). The primary neurological impairments consequently cause deconditioning and predisposition to a sedentary behavior and physical in activity which adversely impact performance of activities of daily living (ADL), increased risk of falls, recurrent stroke and cardiovascular diseases as well as reduced cardiovascular reserves (Da Cunha et al, 2001;Billinger et al, 2014).…”

“…Moreover, the energy cost of ambulation is about twice the normative values of healthy controls (Bellinger et al, 2014). In addition to high energy cost of ambulation, declines in muscle strength and power (Saunders et al, 2008;Gerrits et al, 2009;Brazzelli et al, 2011) as well as post-stroke fatigue (Duncan et al, 2012) further encourage sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity and decreased physical fitness. Generally, fitness training in stroke survivors has received little attention, particularly soon after stroke (Saunders et al, 2009).Although physical fitness decline with the associated post-stroke disabilities has been well highlighted in literature, most stroke rehabilitations do not emphasize fitness training (Saunders et al, 2009;Smith et al, 2012).…”

Rehabilitation aimed at improving outdoor mobility for people after stroke: a multicentre randomised controlled study (the Getting out of the House Study)

“…20 However, the clinical guidelines recommend that stroke patients are encouraged to take physical exercise, as there is an increasing body of evidence that exercise is of benefit to stroke survivors. 21 In the UK the routine treatment for outdoor mobility problems is to provide information in a leaflet and verbally, delivered by a health-care professional. A Cochrane review 22 concluded that the passive provision of leaflets is not effective and leaflets can be difficult to understand after a stroke.…”

Editorial: Physical fitness training after stroke: time to translate evidence into practice

“…3 A recent update of this review (32 trials, 1,414 participants) confirmed these findings. 7 This body of evidence forms the scientific basis of the recommendations in current policies and guidelines on exercise after stroke.…”