abstract: Background: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States (US). Assisted Cycling Therapy (ACT) incorporates the use of an electric motor to enhance the rotations per minute (rpm). ACT of about 80 rpm, has been associated with improvements in motor, cognitive, and clinical function. The acute effects of ACT on motor and cognitive function of persons with stroke induced deficits have not been investigated. Purpose: To compare the acute effects of ACT, voluntary cycling (VC), and no cycling (NC) on upper and lower extremity motor function and executive function in adults with chronic stroke (age: 60 ± 16 years; months since stroke: 96 ± 85). Methods: Twenty-two participants (gender: female = 6, male = 16; types: ischemic = 12, hemorrhagic = 10; sides: left lesion = 15, right lesion = 7) completed one session of ACT, one session of VC and one session of NC on separate days using a 3 x 3 crossover design. Results: ACT lead to greater improvements in lower and upper extremity function on the paretic and non-paretic side than VC or NC (all p < 0.05), except in the non-paretic lower extremity where ACT and VC produced similar improvement (both p < 0.05). ACT and VC, but not NC, were associated with improvements in inhibition (p < 0.05). A positive relationship between cadence and motor function (P < 0.05) was found. Ratings of perceived exertion shared an inverted-U shaped relationship with measures of processing speed (p < 0.05) and a negative linear relationship with measures of executive function (p < 0.05). Conclusion: ACT appears to benefit paretic and non-paretic motor function globally whereas the benefits of VC are more task specific. Faster cycling cadence was associated with greater improvements in global motor function. ACT and VC seem to carry similar acute benefits in inhibition. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Physical Activity, Nutrition and Wellness 2017

Author: Bc. Marie Hejnová Title: Effect of Functional Electrical Stimulation-Assisted Ergometry on Muscle Cross-Sectional Diameter, Nitrogen and Fluid Balance in Critically Ill Objectives: The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of functional electrical stimulation-assisted cycling ergometry (FES-CE) on cross-sectional diameter of the quadriceps femoris (QF) muscle of both lower extremities in critically ill patients. Another objective was to evaluate if the measured values are responding to the changes in muscle tissue or are caused by an oedema. Methods: The intervention group received daily intensified physical therapy and FES-CE. We measured cross-sectional diameter of the QF muscle repeatedly by a diagnostic ultrasound. We recorded daily nitrogen balance to objectivize catabolism of muscle and fluid balance to objectivize amount of cumulative fluid. Results: The total of 115 patients were evaluated. Average decrease of cross-sectional diameter of QF muscle in the intervention group was 0.020 ± 0.070 cm/day, in the control group it was 0.017 ± 0.084 cm/day (p = 0.87). We registered an opposite result from the eighth day onwards, the intervention group had average decrease 0.025 ± 0.047 cm/day and the control group 0.040 ± 0.076 cm/day (p = 0.38). The nitrogen intake was...