Effects of Flywheel Resistance Training on Cognitive Function in Stroke Patients (KAROL)

Karolinska Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stroke

Treatments: Other: Flywheel leg-press resistance exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02120846

Flywheel stroke

1301

Details and patient eligibility

About

Forty patients will be assigned to either a training group (12 wk unilateral knee extension flywheel resistance exercise; 4 sets of 7 reps 2 days/week) or a control group. Patients will maintain daily routines and any prescribed rehabilitation program. Established methods to assess muscle and cognitive function will be employed before and after the intervention.

This project will disclose whether an exercise paradigm, known to improve muscle function and increase muscle volume in healthy populations, will induce similar adaptations in chronic stroke patients. More importantly, this study will elucidate if any impairment in cognitive function caused by stroke, can be reversed with this particular resistance exercise regimen.

The information gained from this project will have significant implications and aid in advancing rehabilitation programs and exercise prescriptions for men and women suffering from stroke. The overall objective of this research is to promote independence and hence quality of life in these patients.

Enrollment: 29 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Mild-moderate hemiparetic gait
• > 6 months post-stroke
• Able to perform flywheel leg-press exercise

Exclusion criteria

• Unstable angina
• Congestive heart failure
• Severe arterial disease
• Major depression
• Dementia
• Chronic pain
• Psychotic alterations

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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29 participants in 2 patient groups

Flywheel leg-press resistance exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Participants from the resistance exercise group will perform a 12-wk unilateral flywheel resistance training program with the paretic limb. Four sets of seven coupled concentric and eccentric actions will be completed in the leg press device using flywheel technology twice weekly. Power in each set and repetition will be measured. During all training sessions, subjects will receive visual real-time feedback of power and force produced during each concentric-eccentric action.

Treatment:

Other: Flywheel leg-press resistance exercise

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Daily routines