What is the Benefit of a High-intensive Exercise Program on Health-related Quality of Life and Depression After Stroke? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal Adv Physiother

Publisher Informa Healthcare

Specialty Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2010 Nov 2

PMID 21037954

Citations 17

Authors

Eva Holmgren

Gunilla Gosman-Hedstrom

Britta Lindstrom

Per Wester

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a high-intensive exercise program containing high-intensive functional exercises implemented to real-life situations together with group discussions on falls and security aspects in stroke subjects with risk of falls. This was a pre-specified secondary outcome for this study. For evaluation, Short Form-36 (SF-36) health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) were used. This was a single-center, single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Consecutive >55 years old stroke patients with risk of falls at 3-6 months after first or recurrent stroke were randomized to the intervention group (IG, n = 15) or to the control group (CG, n = 19) who received group discussion with focus on hidden dysfunctions but no physical fitness training. The 5-week high-intensive exercise program was related to an improvement in the CG in the SF-36 Mental Component Scale and the Mental Health subscale at 3 months follow-up compared with baseline values while no improvement was seen in the IG at this time. For the SF-36 Physical Component Scale, there was an improvement in the whole study group at 3 and 6 months follow-up compared with baseline values without any significant changes between the IG and CG. The GDS-15 was unchanged throughout the follow-up period for both groups. Based on these data, it is concluded that high-intensive functional exercises implemented in real-life situations should also include education on hidden dysfunctions after stroke instead of solely focus on falls and safety aspects to have a favorable impact on HRQoL.

Citing Articles

Effects of Exercise on Post-Stroke Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Zhang Y, Li G, Zheng W, Xu Z, Lv Y, Liu X Life (Basel). 2025; 15(2).

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Physical rehabilitation approaches for the recovery of function and mobility following stroke.

Todhunter-Brown A, Sellers C, Baer G, Choo P, Cowie J, Cheyne J Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025; 2:CD001920.

PMID: 39932103 PMC: 11812092. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001920.pub4.

Effect of Individualized Coaching at Home on Quality of Life in Subacute Stroke Patients.

Telfils R, Gelineau A, Daviet J, Lacroix J, Borel B, Toulgui E Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(10).

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Evidence of High-Intensity Exercise on Lower Limb Functional Outcomes and Safety in Acute and Subacute Stroke Population: A Systematic Review.

Mah S, Goodwill A, Seow H, Teo W Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(1).

PMID: 36612471 PMC: 9819111. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010153.

"Lessons Learned" Preventing Recurrent Ischemic Strokes through Secondary Prevention Programs: A Systematic Review.

Lambert C, Olulana O, Bailey-Davis L, Abedi V, Zand R J Clin Med. 2021; 10(18).

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