the effect of endurance training on motor and cognitive functions and concentration of biomarkers in post-stroke patients

Conditions: Stroke, Ischemic; Stroke Patients

Summary: the aim of this randomised experimental study is to test the effect of different intensities of aerobic exercise on neurotrophin concentration and functional and cognitive functions in post-stroke patients undertaking a single bout and 3-week exercise programme. the main questions to answer are: 1. what is effect of different intensities of aerobic exercise on functional abilities in post-stroke patients undertaking a 3-week aerobic exercise programme? 2. what is effect of different intensities of aerobic exercise on cognitive functions in post-stroke patients undertaking a 3-week aerobic exercise programme? 3. what is effect of different intensities of aerobic exercise on neurotrophin concentration in post-stroke patients undertaking a 3-week aerobic exercise programme? 4. what is effect of different intensities of 45-min single bout aerobic exercise on neurotrophin concentration in post-stroke patients? the participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: moderate-intensity continuous training on a bicycle ergometer and standard neurorehabilitation or low-intensity continuous training on a bicycle ergometer and standard neurorehabilitation. training on a bicycle ergometer was performed four times a week for 45 min for 3 weeks. each participant attended individual neurorehabilitation sessions 11 times per week (2 physical therapy sessions from monday to friday for 45 min each and 1 session on saturday for 45 min) during the 3-week intervention. participants will have pre-tests and post-tests: * blood samples collection (to measure level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial cell derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor, vascular-endothelial growth factor, irisin), * body mass index * the graded cycling test with talk test * 6-minute walk test * rivermead motor assessment * barthel index * addenbrooke's cognitive examination * vo2max * beck depression inventory researchers will compare two groups - moderate intensity continuous group and low intensity continuous group to see if there is a modulating effect of different intensities of exercise in participants' outcomes.


Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * age 21-75 years, * first episode of ischemic stroke confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (mri) or computed tomography (ct), * able to walk for 4 m at a self-selected speed independently or with an assistive device (as needed), * be in a stable clinical condition, * able to communicate with investigators, * provided written informed consent to participate in the study. exclusion criteria: * aphasia, * an unstable cardiac status (e.g., evidence of significant arrhythmia or myocardial ischaemia), * lower extremity claudication, * weight-bearing pain \>4/10, * lower extremity spasticity (i.e., an ashworth scale score \>2), other neurological conditions in addition to stroke, * chronic degenerative or inflammatory diagnoses, malignancies, and visuospatial neglect.

Keywords: stroke cognitive functions neurotrophins neurological rehabilitation