Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs
Publication Date
Summer 7-30-2024
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess the feasibility of chronic stroke patients safely completing an acute 30-minute session of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) compared to moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (MIE) on a treadmill, with a focus on cognitive outcomes. Design: This feasibility study utilized a randomized controlled crossover trial with two experimental sessions separated by at least 7 days to minimize practice effects on cognitive assessments. Subjects: Five chronic stroke survivors (m=4, f=1) participated in two randomly assigned experimental sessions (n=5, 60.4 ± 11.3 years, 39.8 ± 41.4% body fat, 32.7±6.3 body mass index [kg/m²])., either a 30-min HIIE condition or a 30-min MIE.
Main Measures: Feasibility metrics including recruitment, retention, cognitive assessment delivery, questionnaire completion, fNIRS headband placement and tolerance, fNIRS data quality, exercise protocol adherence, successful blood draws, and inclusion of participants with aphasia.
Results: Achieved 90% recruitment, 83% retention, 100% cognitive assessment and questionnaire completion. Reliable fNIRS headband placement (within 1 cm) and high tolerance (90%). Collected high-quality fNIRS data for 90% of participants, with 100% adherence to exercise protocols and successful blood draws. Aphasia participants completed all tasks successfully.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates feasibility for a randomized controlled trial on the cognitive effects of HIIE vs. MIE in chronic stroke patients, including those with aphasia. High recruitment, retention, and adherence rates support the potential for larger-scale studies
Keywords
High-intensity interval exercise, feasibility, stroke, aphasia, fNIRS, blood-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF)
Document Type
Dissertation
Language
English
Degree Name
Physical Education, Sports and Exercise Science
Level of Degree
Doctoral
Department Name
Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences
First Committee Member (Chair)
Christine Mermier
Second Committee Member
Flavio de Castro Magalhaes
Third Committee Member
Terence Moriarty
Fourth Committee Member
Jessica D. Richardson
Recommended Citation
Welch, Anna M.; Marissa Ramirez; Christine Mermier; Flavio de Castro Magalhaes; Jessia D. Richardson; Alyssa Bailly; and Terence Moriarty. "THE FEASIBILITY OF AN ACUTE BOUT OF HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL VS CONTINUOUS MODERATE-INTENSITY EXERCISE ON COGNITION IN CHRONIC STROKE PATIENTS." (2024). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/educ_hess_etds/191
