Does a cycling program combined with education and followed by coaching promote physical activity in subacute stroke patients? A randomized controlled trial.

CONCLUSION: When active cycling combined with education is used in subacute patients with severe motor function deficits, more sport participation might be observed after one year. No other significant group differences were found over time. In all groups, however, patients showed significant improvement over time in physical activity measures. Future work is needed to explore the most effective coaching approach after an aerobic training program. Implications for Rehabilitation The active cycling program combined with education is applicable in subacute stroke patients as it required little stand-by assistance due to chip cards, the intensity was gradually built and the involvement of caregivers in the educational sessions. This training approach also revealed applicable in severely impaired stroke patients and might facilitate sport participation on the long-term. This randomized controlled study aims to quantify physical activity after stroke by using a combination of objective and self-report measures, which revealed detailed information about different aspects of physical activity levels. There is a need for coaching approaches that facilitate aerobic exercise after ending a supervised program. A coaching approach needs to guide patients in adopting aerobic exercise as a part of a lifestyle change and needs to be less time consuming. PMID: 29105516 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Tags: Disabil Rehabil Source Type: research