Effect of High Aerobic Intensity Interval Treadmill Walking in People With Chronic Stroke: A Pilot Study With One Year Follow-Up

Abstract

Objective: To determine the physiological and functional responses from high aerobic intensity treadmill walking in 4 x 4-minute intervals in people with chronic stroke and to evaluate the feasibility of this mode of training. Method: This was a baseline control trial with 1 year follow-up in an outpatient rehabilitation setting at a university hospital. Eight people with chronic stroke participated in and completed the study. Their mean age was 48.9 (± 10.6) years. We tested uphill treadmill walking in 4 x 4-minute work periods at an intensity between 85% and 95% of peak heart rate from initial maximal treadmill testing. There were 3-minute active breaks between the intervals. The main outcome measures were peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) and walking economy (C_w). Overall compliance and adverse events determine the feasibility. Results: VO_2peak increased from 2.32 (± 0.44) to 2.60 (± 0.55) L • min–¹ post training (P = .003). Walking economy (C_w) improved from 1.12 (± 0.15) to 1.04 (± 0.18) L • min–¹ (P = .043). At 1 year follow-up, VO_2peak was 2.59 (±0.58) L • min –¹ and was not significantly different from posttraining measurement (P = 1.00). C_w was 1.19 (± 0.15) L • min–¹ at 1 year follow-up and thus was worse than post training (P = .023). Functional improvements were found in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) (P = .020), 10-meter walk test (10MWT) (P = .032), and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) (P = .002) at post tests. Conclusions: High aerobic intensity interval treadmill walking significantly increased VO_2peak and improved C_w in these subjects. The training was feasible and may have important implications for cardiovascular health and future rehabilitation programs in this population.

Keywords:

• function
• high intensity
• stroke
• treadmill
• VO_2peak