Early Intervention With a Low-intensity Leg Cycling Exercise Program for Individuals After Stroke

Early Intervention With a Low-intensity Leg Cycling Exercise Program for Individuals After Stroke

This is a two-stage study. In the first stage, 30 subjects with stroke (onset > 2 weeks) are recruited, and they are assessed and recorded with clinical characteristics, sympathetic nerve testing, and twice symptom-limit exercise capacity tests. The second stage would recruited 90 subjects with stroke (onset>2 weeks), and they are randomized to one of three groups (control, low-intensity, high-intensity). They are evaluated before and after the four-week interval with clinical characteristics and twice symptom-limit exercise capacity tests (baseline and after four-week training) .

This is a two-stage study. In the first stage, 30 subjects with stroke (onset > 2 weeks) are recruited, and they are assessed and recorded with sympathetic nerve testing, anthropometry, and twice symptom-limit exercise capacity tests.The second stage would recruited 90 subjects with stroke (onset>2 weeks), and they are randomized to one of three groups. The control group undergoes traditional rehabilitation only, The low-intensity exercise group receives a low-intensity four-week cycle ergometry and traditional rehabilitation. The The high-intensity exercise group gets a high-intensity four-week cycle ergometry and traditional rehabilitation. They are evaluated by sympathetic tests, anthropometry, functional scales and activity questionnaires, and symptom-limit exercise capacity tests before and after the four-week training.

Inclusion Criteria:

• stroke onset longer than two weeks,
• eligible for exercise testing by Doctor

Exclusion Criteria:

• aphasia,
• apraxia