Neurorehabilitation and neural repair
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Neurorehabil Neural Repair · May 2009
Clinical TrialInduction of cortical plastic changes in wrist muscles by paired associative stimulation in the recovery phase of stroke patients.
Paired associative stimulation (PAS) combining peripheral nerve and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have been proposed to induce long-term changes in excitability of the cerebral cortex and potentially optimize motor recovery in stroke patients. ⋯ These electrophysiological findings suggest that patients with subcortical infarcts may respond to PAS in an earlier than later period after stroke. If the clinical efficacy of interventions such as PAS is confirmed, it could be proposed early as add-on therapy to optimize training-induced plasticity processes.
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Neurorehabil Neural Repair · May 2009
Effects of an aerobic exercise program on aerobic capacity, spatiotemporal gait parameters, and functional capacity in subacute stroke.
and objective. In spite of the challenges, engaging in exercise programs very early after stroke may positively influence aerobic capacity and stroke-related outcomes, including walking ability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of adding aerobic cycle ergometer training to conventional rehabilitation early after stroke and to determine effects on aerobic capacity, walking ability, and health-related quality of life. ⋯ Early aerobic training can be safely implemented without deleterious effects on stroke rehabilitation. A trend toward greater improvement in aerobic capacity and walking capacity suggests that such training may have an early beneficial effect and should be considered for inclusion in rehabilitation programs.