People who had a stroke at least 6 months prior and who still have difficulty with walking will each be randomly assigned to receive either moderate or vigorous intensity walking exercise. Both protocols will be performed individually with a physical therapist for 45 minutes, 3x/week for 12 weeks. Measures including walking function will be assessed at baseline (PRE), after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of training (12WK) and at 3-month follow up (3moPOST), by raters who are unaware of the participant randomization.
Who can participate
Age range30 Years – 85 Years
SexALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age 30-85 years at time of consenting
* Hemiparesis from ischemic and/or hemorrhagic strokes
* Most recent stroke for which participant sought treatment, at least 6 months prior to study consent
* Walking speed \<1.0 m/s on the 10-meter walk test
* Able to walk 10m over ground with assistive devices as needed and no continuous physical assistance from another person (guarding and intermittent assistance for loss of balance allowed)
* Able to walk at least 3 minutes on the treadmill at ≥0.13m/s (0.3 mph)
* Stable cardiovascular condition (AHA class B, allowing for aerobic capacity \<6 metabolic equivalents)
* Able to communicate with investigators, follow a 2-step command and correctly answer consent comprehension questions
Exclusion Criteria:
* Exercise testing uninterpretable for ischemia or arrhythmia (e.g. resting ECG abnormality that makes exercise ECG uninterpretable for ischemia and no other clinical testing from the past year available to rule out these conditions)
* Evidence of significant arrhythmia or myocardial ischemia on treadmill ECG graded exercise test in the absence of recent (past year) more definitive clinical testing (e.g. stress nuclear imaging) with negative result
* Hospitalization for cardiac or pulmonary disease within past 3 months
* Implanted pacemaker or defibrillator with an upper heart rate limit that would interfere with exercise testing or prescription, or with unknown limit
* Significant ataxia or neglect (score of 2 o…