Inclusion criteria:  individuals early post-stroke (<15-30 days) first ever stroke unilateral hemiparesis currently receiving inpatient rehabilitation ability to follow 1-step commands provision of informed consent medical clearance from the rehabilitation physician to participate. \  Exclusion criteria:  uncontrolled cardiovascular, metabolic or respiratory disease that limits exercise participation (e.g., congestive heart failure, resting blood pressure > 200/110 mmHg, uncontrolled diabetes, end-stage renal disease) absolute criteria for termination of exercise testing during initial and repeated ECG testing during graded exercise testing using ACSM guidelines . other orthopedic or neurological disorder that limited walking prior to stroke