The benefits of brief-duration, early exercise programs in stroke have been shown, but the effects of longer-duration aerobic training early after stroke have not been examined. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an early aerobic exercise program that extended beyond inpatient into outpatient rehabilitation on aerobic capacity, walking parameters (walking distance, speed, and symmetry), health-related quality of life, and balance. Patients in the subacute phase after stroke (n = 15) with mild to moderate impairment received aerobic exercise in addition to conventional rehabilitation. The study participants demonstrated significant improvement in aerobic and walking capacity, peak work rate, quality of life, balance, and gait velocity from baseline to midpoint. However, no difference was found between midpoint and final. This early aerobic exercise program following stroke significantly improved aerobic capacity, walking ability, quality of life and balance during the inpatient period although no further improvement was observed during the outpatient period.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/19007 |
| Date | 17 February 2010 |
| Creators | Yoon, Jake Jangjin |
| Contributors | Brooks, Dina |
| Source Sets | University of Toronto |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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