Article

OBJECTIVE: To establish the value of an early post-stroke evaluation of
cardiorespiratory fitness in hemiparetic patients using a one-leg cycling
exercise test and to analyze the impact of an adapted physical activity programme
12 weeks after the stroke. PROTOCOL: Eighteen hemiparetic stroke patients
participated in the study. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of two
groups: the control group (CG) underwent 4 weeks of conventional rehabilitation,
whereas the training group (TG) performed additional physical exercises. The
initial evaluation (T1) was carried out after 1 week of exercise and the final
evaluation (T2) was performed after 28 days. Both evaluations consisted of
maximal graded tests performed with the valid leg, followed by completion of a
questionnaire on personal autonomy in activities of daily living (ADL). RESULTS:
In the CG group, we recorded a 4 to 8% increase in peak oxygen uptake (VO peak).
There was no significant increase in peak power output (Wpeak). However, the TG
displayed significantly (P<0.05) greater peak values than those recorded on study
entry (Wpeak: +30%, VO peak: +20%). The TG showed a statistically significant
improvement in the Barthel and Katz ADL scale scores, whereas the pre- and
post-rehabilitation values did not differ significantly in the CG. However, there
was no correlation between the Barthel/Katz scale scores and Wpeak. CONCLUSION:
Evaluation of cardiorespiratory fitness by using the valid leg seems to be
feasible in hemiplegic patients 1 month post-stroke. Early post-stroke physical
training appears to be needed to limit the negative effects of functional
hypoactivity.
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Langue : ANGLAIS ; FRANCAIS