The goal of this clinical trial is to establish the feasibility and fidelity of a high-intensity exercise program for individuals with post-stroke aphasia. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is it feasible for stroke survivors with aphasia to participate in a long in-person physical exercise program? * Does participation in a physical exercise program lead to physical fitness, cognitive, language and/or psychological changes? Participants can take part in two different physical exercise interventions: * Low intensity intervention (control intervention); * High-intensity physical exercise intervention (target intervention).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
12
As an active control intervention, a low-intensity non-aerobic exercise program was selected that mirrors more closely the standard-of-care physical therapy currently provided to stroke patients. This control intervention will offer the same level of participant involvement and type of exercises, but without the intensity element, i.e., it will not incorporate the cardiovascular and the strengthening components.
We have developed a new exercise program specifically designed for individuals with post-stroke aphasia, Aphasia Physical EXercise (APEX), to provide a safe, stroke- and aphasia-friendly physical exercise intervention to achieve optimal physical fitness and cognitive/language gains. This intervention, based on published research and clinical practice recommendations, is a high-intensity interval training full-body workout optimized to accommodate the range of motor abilities and general deconditioning observed in stroke survivors.
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, California, United States
California State University East Bay
Hayward, California, United States
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States
Change on the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) - Aphasia Quotient
The Aphasia Quotient from the Western Aphasia Battery (a standardized language test) measures overall severity of language impairment in aphasia and ranges from 0 to 100, with lower scores indicative of more severe aphasia.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention (3rd week for the low-intensity arm and 9th week for the high-intensity arm)
Changes in Maximal Aerobic Capacity
This is a measure of cardiorespiratory and metabolic fitness. Maximal Aerobic Capacity (VO2 Max) is the ability of the body to utilize oxygen to produce energy and is measured via a graded exercise test until volitional fatigue, while measuring consumption of oxygen with a computerized metabolic system. Typically measured on a treadmill, VO2 Max has also been found to be accurately and safely measured in stroke survivors on a recumbent stepper, which will be used in this study. A good VO2max varies greatly depending on age, and for older participants is typically between 30-40 ml/kg/min (higher values indicate greater fitness).
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention (3rd week for the low-intensity arm and 9th week for the high-intensity arm)
Attendance
Total number of physical exercise classes attended during the intervention.
Time frame: After the intervention (3rd week for the control intervention and 9th week for the experimental intervention)
Change on the 30-second chair stands
The number of full stands from a seated position that can be completed in 30 seconds with arms folded across the chest.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention (3rd week for the low-intensity arm and 9th week for the high-intensity arm)
Change on the 2-minute Step Test
The number of knee raises completed in 2 minutes, raising each knee to a point midway between the patella (kneecap) and iliac crest (top hip bone).
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention (3rd week for the low-intensity arm and 9th week for the high-intensity arm)
Change on the Timed Up-and-Go Test
The number of seconds it takes to get up from a seated position, walk 3 m, turn, and return to a seated position.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention (3rd week for the low-intensity arm and 9th week for the high-intensity arm)
Change on the Functional Reach Test
The number of inches reached forward with each arm with feet flat on the floor at hip width.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention (3rd week for the low-intensity arm and 9th week for the high-intensity arm)
Change in Gait Speed
The speed in meters per second for the middle 6 m of the 10 m walkway.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention (3rd week for the low-intensity arm and 9th week for the high-intensity arm)
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