Cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to maximum exercise and aerobic capacity in hemiplegic patients

This study evaluated cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to maximum exercise and aerobic capacity in hemiplegic patients and clarified the relationship between the resulting data and motor disability. Twenty patients with stroke and fifteen healthy controls were included in the study. Cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to maximum exercise were investigated with an electronically braked arm crank ergometer. Vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, peak expiratory flow rate, forced vital capacity, maximum voluntary ventilation, peak power output, respiratory exchange ratio, and exercise time were reduced in stroke patients when compared with the controls. No relationship was found between these data and motor disability. The hemiplegic patients showed a significant respiratory dysfunction and reduced exercise tolerance. These findings suggest that a program of ventilatory and aerobic training should be considered early after stroke to avoid cardiorespiratory problems and deconditioning.