Exercise induces peripheral muscle but not cardiac output adaptations after stroke. A randomised controlled pilot trial.

Objective To explore the physiological factors affecting exercise-induced changes in peak oxygen consumption and function poststroke. Design Single-center, single-blind, randomized controlled pilot trial. Setting Community stroke services. Participants Adults (N=40; age>50y; independent with/without stick) with stroke (diagnosed >6mo previously) were recruited from 117 eligible participants. Twenty participants were randomized to the intervention group and 20 to the control group. No dropouts or adverse events were reported. Interventions Intervention group: 19-week (3times/wk) progressive mixed (aerobic/strength/balance/flexibility) community group exercise program. Control group: Matched duration home stretching program. Main Outcome Measures (1) Pre- and postintervention: maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing with noninvasive (bioreactance) cardiac output measurements; and (2) functional outcome measures: 6-minute walk test; timed Up and Go test, and Berg Balance Scale. Results Exercise improved peak oxygen consumption (18±5 to 21±5mL/(kg⋅min); P<.01) and peak arterial-venous oxygen difference (9.2±2.7 to 11.4±2.9mL of O2/100mL of blood; P<.01), but did not alter cardiac output (17.2±4 to 17.7±4.2L/min; P=.44) or cardiac power output (4.8±1.3 to 5.0±1.35W; P=.45). A significant relation existed between change in peak oxygen consumption and change in peak arterial-venous oxygen difference (r=.507; P<.05), but not with cardiac output. Change in peak oxygen consumption did not strongly correlate with change in function. Conclusions Exercise induced peripheral muscle, but not cardiac output, adaptations after stroke. Implications for stroke clinical care should be explored further in a broader cohort.