Investigating Exercise Prescription Parameters on Aerobic Fitness and Vascular Health After Stroke: A Pilot Study
People living with stroke have very low aerobic fitness, which can negatively impact brain health. Identifying the best exercise which includes exercise stimulus type (interval, continuous) or intensity, how hard to exercise (moderate, high) that benefit aerobic fitness, vascular health, and the brain's main blood vessels after stroke are unknown. This study is designed to determine the preliminary efficacy of high-volume HIIT to moderate intensity exercise using a seated stepper exercise device that allows the arms and legs to move back and forth.
• Both sexes between the age of 20-85 years at time of consent
• Chronic ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke 6 months to 15 years at consent. People with stroke and newly diagnosed cardiovascular complications had \>50% prevalence of recurrent stroke at 5 years. Index stroke or recurrent stroke on same side as index stroke will be allowed.
• Ability to walk over ground with assistive devices and no continuous physical assistance from another person to perform tests for gait speed and six-minute walk test
• Exercise continuously for minimum of 30 watts for 3 minutes on the recumbent stepper to demonstrate ability to perform the exercise test.
• No aerobic exercise contraindications or other safety/physical concerns during the submaximal exercise test.
• Able to communicate with investigators, follow 2-step command \& correctly answer consent comprehension questions
• Currently participating in less than 150 minutes of physical activity/week assessed by the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity
• Stable blood pressure \& statin medication doses for 30 days prior to enrollment due to effects on vascular health/hemodynamics