Vasconcelos L1, de Melo Loiola G1, Luiza Franco S1
1PUC Minas, Physical Therapy, Poços de Caldas, Brazil
Background: Stroke patients often suffer from poor cardiovascular health and deficits in physical, psychosocial and cognitive functioning. The use of aerobic exercise training in physical therapy programs may be a viable treatment approach to address these health issues.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between two different aerobic exercise interventions to improve physical performance and mood in participants with chronic stroke.
Methods: Sixteen subjects were enrolled in this study and 12 of them completed the10 week intervention using a cycle ergometer (CE; n=6) or performing an outdoor free walk training (FW; n=6). Participants were aged 65,33 (±9,33) years old with full cognition function (Mini Mental State score: 24,75±2,99). Outcome measures were taken at baseline, postintervention, and at 1-montrh follow-up. Tinetti performance oriented mobility assessment, timed up and go test, Fugl-Meyer motor scale (lower extremity), Beck depression inventory and stroke specific quality of life were used to assess physical performance and mood.
Results: Comparisons between CE and FW groups revealed no clinically relevant effects on any parameters. However, both group revealed clinically relevant effects on lower extremity motor function and only FW group revealed it on total balance and quality of life (p 0,01) among initial and final assessments. Only gait functionality assessment by timed up and go test revealed no relevant difference among them. There was loss in all measurements during the follow-up observation period.
Conclusion(s): FW strategy is far more effective than CE for improving general quality of life and safety gait. We consider that our outdoor environment has an amazing view of local nature. So, it is possible that this informal strategy, with influence of closer relationship with the therapist and the nature has influenced the overall improvement of this group, especially in the quality of life and mood.
Implications: The aerobic exercise must be definitely introduced in rehabilitation programs for individuals post stroke. It would be interesting if physiotherapists considered, when possible, using outdoor and pleasing environment during rehabilitation, leaving the internal environment of clinics and hospital.
Keywords: Physical Therapy, stroke, exercise
Funding acknowledgements: Threre was no financial help linked to this project.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between two different aerobic exercise interventions to improve physical performance and mood in participants with chronic stroke.
Methods: Sixteen subjects were enrolled in this study and 12 of them completed the10 week intervention using a cycle ergometer (CE; n=6) or performing an outdoor free walk training (FW; n=6). Participants were aged 65,33 (±9,33) years old with full cognition function (Mini Mental State score: 24,75±2,99). Outcome measures were taken at baseline, postintervention, and at 1-montrh follow-up. Tinetti performance oriented mobility assessment, timed up and go test, Fugl-Meyer motor scale (lower extremity), Beck depression inventory and stroke specific quality of life were used to assess physical performance and mood.
Results: Comparisons between CE and FW groups revealed no clinically relevant effects on any parameters. However, both group revealed clinically relevant effects on lower extremity motor function and only FW group revealed it on total balance and quality of life (p 0,01) among initial and final assessments. Only gait functionality assessment by timed up and go test revealed no relevant difference among them. There was loss in all measurements during the follow-up observation period.
Conclusion(s): FW strategy is far more effective than CE for improving general quality of life and safety gait. We consider that our outdoor environment has an amazing view of local nature. So, it is possible that this informal strategy, with influence of closer relationship with the therapist and the nature has influenced the overall improvement of this group, especially in the quality of life and mood.
Implications: The aerobic exercise must be definitely introduced in rehabilitation programs for individuals post stroke. It would be interesting if physiotherapists considered, when possible, using outdoor and pleasing environment during rehabilitation, leaving the internal environment of clinics and hospital.
Keywords: Physical Therapy, stroke, exercise
Funding acknowledgements: Threre was no financial help linked to this project.
Topic: Neurology: stroke; Neurology
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: PUC Minas
Ethics committee: PUC Minas
Ethics number: CAAE 54563416.3.0000.5137
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
