The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effects of a high-intensity exercise program on recovery in individuals with post-stroke aphasia. The high-intensity exercise program has been specifically designed for individuals with post-stroke aphasia and includes an interval training full-body workout, which can increase cardiovascular fitness, improve muscle strength and motor performance, and maximize cognitive and language gains. The main question this study aims to answer is:
• Does participation in a high-intensity exercise program lead to changes in physical health, language, cognitive, motor recovery, psychological and/or psychosocial domains?
Participants will be randomly assigned to either a high-intensity exercise program (target intervention) or a low-intensity exercise program (control intervention) delivered over 12-weeks in a group setting.
Outcome measures will be collected once immediately after the intervention period and once during the following 12-week maintenance period to capture short- and long-term effects of the exercise program.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
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:
* Aphasia following ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
* Aphasia as determined by a standardized language test (Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia Quotient \< 93.8 at study intake)
* At least 6 months from the last stroke
* Proficient in English before the stroke
* At least 8 years of education
* Between the ages of 18 and 80
* Independent with ambulation without a device (single-point cane accepted)
* Medically stable with no contraindications to participate in regular physical exercise as determined by the patients' own primary care provider or other treating provider.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Prior history of dementia, neurologic illness (other than stroke), or recent (last 3 years) substance abuse
* Significant visual or hearing disabilities (e.g., neglect, uncorrected visual or hearing loss) that interfere with testing
* Self-report uncontrolled cardiorespiratory and/or metabolic disorders incompatible with exercise
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change on the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) - Aphasia Quotient
Timeframe: (T1) Baseline: at the start of the study; (T2) Pre-treatment: 1 week prior to the start of the intervention; (T3) Post-treatment: the week immediately following the intervention; (T4) Follow-up: 3 months after the conclusion of the intervention.