A pilot study of the effect of aerobic training with bicycle ergometer on hemiplegic stroke patients without ambulation ability / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the effectiveness and feasibility of low intensity of aerobic bicycle ergometer training on hemiplegic stroke patients unable to perform assistive or independent ambulation.Methods Thirty stroke patients unable of assistive or independent ambulation were randomly divided into a control group and a aerobic training group.Patients in the aerobic training group performed low intensity of aerobic bicycle ergometer training for 30 min,3 times a week for 6 weeks in addition to a routine rehabilitation regime.The training duration and course of routine rehabilitation training were the same in both groups.The related cardiovascular response in aerobic training and changes in motor performance as well as the risk factors for stroke were observed in both groups.Results Twenty-four patients(12 patients in each group)completed the experiment.Patients in aerobic training group performed all training regime safely without any adverse response.Their motor function(including FMA score,Rivermead index,BI ADL ability),exercise endurance duration in exercise test,glucose level at 2 h in oral glucose tolerance test,fasting insulin level and HOMA-IR index all improved greatly as compared to the control group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Low intensity of aerobic bicycle ergometer training can be safely and effectively administered in hemiplegic stroke patients unable of assistive ambulation or independent ambulation.