Improvement of the motor and functional capacity of post-cerebrovascular accident hemiplegics by exercise retraining combined with a varied exercises program

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise retraining combined with a program of varied physical exercises on heart rate, training intensity, aerobic capacity, lower limb strength, and body composition of hemiplegic patient’s post-cerebrovascular accident. This was a 12-week follow-up study, of 30 post-stroke hemiplegic patients aged 18 years and over, who were subjected to an effort retraining program, consisting of walking on a treadmill at a progressive speed of 2.7 to 6 km per hour and a slope of 5 to 12% combined with various transfer exercises, going up and down stairs, on an ergometric bike, balance and limb strengthening thighs, Abdo and Buttocks, lasting 60 minutes per session, 3 times a week and from 40 to 75% progressive of the Maximum Heart Rate. We used the paired Student's t-test to compare continuous variables before and after the programs. A significant increase was obtained in 12 weeks of intervention for most of the parameters: +12 (37 vs 49); p < 0.001 for balance, +1.4 meters per second (1.39 vs 2.79). p < 0.001 for walking speed, +4 degrees (11 vs 15); p < 0.001 for step angle, +32 steps per minute (37 vs 69); p < 0.001 for walking cadence; +213 meters (143 vs. 356); p < 0.001 for the distance covered in six minutes, +3 ml/min/Kg (29 vs 32); p < 0.001 for maximum oxygen consumption and +12% (22 vs 34); p < 0.001 for lean body mass. On the other hand, the time of the Time up and go test, of the walk on the descent and ascent, and the fat mass, was significantly reduced: -14 seconds (55 vs 41), p < 0.003; -16 minutes (67 vs. 51); p < 0.001 and -16 minutes (59 vs 43); p < 0.001 and - 5% (41 vs 36); p