The results revealed that despite significant strength gains , many studies failed to show a significant improvement in walking capacity .
Strength testing and strengthening exercises were prioritized for the knee extensors and flexors , despite their relatively minor role in human walking .
Strengthening exercises performed in the neurologic population are not specific to the main muscle groups responsible for the power generation required for walking .
There is a predisposition for strength testing and strengthening exercises to focus on the knee flexors and extensors despite their relatively minor role during walking .
The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the task specificity of strength training programs for walking in neurologic rehabilitation .
Comparison of effect of aerobic cycle training and progressive resistance training on walking ability after stroke: a randomized sham exercise-controlled study.
OBJECTIVES To determine whether changes in strength or cardiorespiratory fitness after exercise training improve walking ability in individuals who have had a stroke . DESIGN A sham exercise-controlled , r and omized two-by-two factorial design , in which the two factors investigated were cycle training ( AEROBIC ) and resistance training ( STRENGTH ) . SETTING University exercise laboratory . PARTICIPANTS Fifty-two individuals with a history of stroke ( aged 63+/-9 ; time since stroke , 57+/-54 months ) . INTERVENTION Participants undertook 30 exercise sessions over 10 to 12 weeks . Depending on group allocation , individuals underwent aerobic cycling plus sham progressive resistance training ( PRT ) ( n=13 ) , sham cycling plus PRT ( n=13 ) , aerobic cycling plus PRT ( n=14 ) , or sham cycling plus sham PRT ( n=12 ) . MEASUREMENTS Primary outcomes were 6-minute walk distance , habitual and fast gait velocities , and stair climbing power . Secondary outcomes included measures of cardiorespiratory fitness ; muscle strength , power , and endurance ; and psychosocial attributes . RESULTS Neither AEROBIC nor STRENGTH improved walking distance or gait velocity significantly more than sham exercise , although STRENGTH significantly improved participants ' stair climbing power by 17 % ( P=.009 ) , as well as their muscle strength , power , and endurance ; cycling peak power output ; and self-efficacy . Conversely , AEROBIC improved indicators of cardiorespiratory fitness only . Cycling plus PRT produced larger effects than either single modality for mobility and impairment outcomes . CONCLUSION Single-modality exercises targeted at existing impairments do not optimally address the functional deficits of walking but do ameliorate the underlying impairments . The underlying cardiovascular and musculoskeletal impairments are significantly modifiable years after stroke with targeted robust exercise
The results revealed that despite significant strength gains , many studies failed to show a significant improvement in walking capacity .
Strength testing and strengthening exercises were prioritized for the knee extensors and flexors , despite their relatively minor role in human walking .
Strengthening exercises performed in the neurologic population are not specific to the main muscle groups responsible for the power generation required for walking .
There is a predisposition for strength testing and strengthening exercises to focus on the knee flexors and extensors despite their relatively minor role during walking .
The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the task specificity of strength training programs for walking in neurologic rehabilitation .