ABSTRACT
Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability in the world. The angiogenesis strategy is a new therapeutic approach to exercise in these patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of continuous exercise on serum levels of vascular stabilizing factor and its consequences. MethodsIn this randomized clinical trial study, 30 patients with stroke who volunteered to participate in the study, aged 45 - 65 years, were selected by convenience sampling and non-random sampling method. Subjects were randomly selected. The patients were randomly divided into intervention group (4 weeks of continuous exercise in 40 - 60 minutes pedal with 60 - 65% VO2 peak intensity for 5 days per week and physiotherapy) and control group (physiotherapy only). Blood angiogenesis and motor function levels were measured at baseline and twenty-eight days after the last exercise session. Data was analyzed by using Stata software version 13 at the significance level of 0.05. ResultsIn this trial, thirty patients completed the study period, and were included in the analysis. The mean ages of patients in the control and intervention groups were 55.66 (S.D.: 6.69) and 61.46 (S.D.: 6.47) years, respectively. Serum levels of angiopoietin-1 increased after exercise at alpha level (P = 0.011). The reduction of the Modified Rankin Scale was obtained as a secondary consequence (P = 0.001). ConclusionsContinuous exercise training over four weeks can improve the prognosis of patients by altering the levels of angiogenesis-stabilizing factor in decreasing the symptoms of stroke.