The Effect of Endurance Training on Motor and Cognitive Functions and Concentration of Biomarkers in Post-stroke Patients

Poznan University of Physical Education

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stroke Patients; Stroke, Ischemic

Treatments: Behavioral: Exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06824116

378/21

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

---

44 participants in 2 patient groups

exercise low intensity

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exercise

Behavioral: Exercise

exercise moderate intensity

Experimental group

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exercise

Behavioral: Exercise