Does High-intensity Exercise Lead to Better Functional Outcomes Early After Stroke in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting?

Launched by MAH SHI MIN · Mar 29, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether high-intensity exercise can help patients recover better after having a stroke while they are in a rehabilitation hospital. The researchers want to find out if doing more intense workouts, compared to lower-intensity exercises, leads to faster improvements in walking and other daily activities. They are looking for 36 participants who have had their first stroke and can walk a little with help. Participants should be between 21 and 99 years old and must be cleared by a doctor to safely take part in high-intensity exercise.

If you join the study, you'll be randomly assigned to either the high-intensity or low-intensity exercise group for two weeks. Both groups will receive the same types of physical therapy but at different exercise intensities. Your progress will be measured before and after the program using simple tests, such as how fast you can walk or get up from a chair. You'll also wear a special device that measures brain activity during some of the exercises. This trial aims to see which type of exercise is more effective in helping people recover after a stroke, and your participation could contribute to important findings in stroke rehabilitation.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Admitted for acute ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke and requiring inpatient rehabilitation for stroke
• • 2. First-ever, single, unilateral stroke
• • 3. Aged 21-99 years old
• • 4. Able to walk 10m overground with minimal or moderate physical assistance
• • 5. Cleared by physician to be medically stable to participate in high intensity exercise (HIE)
• • 6. Participants have to be warded for inpatient rehabilitation for at least 10 consecutive weekdays
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Any central or peripheral nervous system or orthopedic injury that may limit ambulation or exercise
• • 2. Uncontrolled cardiorespiratory disease
• • 3. Inability to follow 3 steps commands
• • 4. Patient unable to give consent for the study
• • 5. Patient who is assessed unsuitable to don on the medical device fNIRS (eg patients who had undergone craniectomy and cranioplasty)