This study aims to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on fatigue severity among individuals with chronic stroke. Participants will be randomly assigned to the HIIT group, the moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) group, or the stretching group (active control). Each group will participate in supervised exercise sessions three times per week over a 12-week period, totaling 36 sessions. Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline, mid-intervention (week 6), post-intervention (week 12), and follow-up (week 20). The primary outcome will be fatigue severity. Secondary outcomes will include inflammatory biomarkers and additional health-related indicators.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
The HIIT intervention will consist of a 3-minute warm-up, a 25-minute main exercise, and a 2-minute cool-down. The main exercise will include four 4-minute high-intensity intervals, each interspersed with a 3-minute low-intensity recovery period. Participants will attend three supervised sessions per week over a 12-week period.
The MICT intervention will include a 3-minute warm-up, 25 minutes of continuous exercise performed at a moderate intensity, and a 2-minute cool-down. Participants will attend three supervised sessions per week over a 12-week period.
The stretching intervention will consist of 30 minutes of whole-body stretching. Participants will attend three sessions per week over a 12-week period.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Kowloon, Hong Kong
RECRUITINGEligibility rate (%)
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 12 weeks.
Recruitment rate (number of participants per month)
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 12 weeks.
Compliance with HIIT (%)
Time frame: From baseline to week 12
Fidelity to the HIIT protocol (%)
Time frame: From baseline to week 12
Retention of the intervention (%)
Time frame: From baseline to week 12
Adverse events (number of events)
Time frame: From baseline to week 12
Acceptability (qualitative)
Time frame: At week 12
Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)
The FSS consists of 9 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 (highly disagree) to 7 (highly agree). Higher scores indicate greater fatigue severity.
Time frame: Blinded assessors will conduct evaluations at baseline, week 12 , and week 20.
Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MDI)
The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) is a 20-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess fatigue across five dimensions: General Fatigue, Physical Fatigue, Mental Fatigue, Reduced Motivation, and Reduced Activity. Each subscale contains 4 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue. The total score ranges from 20 to 100.
Time frame: Blinded assessors will conduct evaluations at baseline, week 12 , and week 20.
Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36)
The SF-36 includes 36 items and one additional item assessing perceived change in health over time. Each domain is scored on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health status.
Time frame: Blinded assessors will conduct evaluations at baseline, week 6, and week 12.
Inflammatory biomarkers
Inflammatory biomarkers will be quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits obtained from commercial suppliers, following the manufacturer's instructions.
Time frame: Blinded assessors will conduct evaluations at baseline, week 6, and week 12.
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