Strength Training for Chronic Stroke Patients

Summary

The study aims to investigate the effects of strength training on maximal strength, walking ability and neural function in chronic stroke patients. The strength training intervention in this study is different to all previous interventions for stroke patients.

Maximal Strength Training (MST) involves weights of up to 90% of the participants 1 repetition maximum and has a focus on the explosive development of force. This study will use these principles for unilateral leg press and plantarflexion exercises. Only 2 previous studies have investigated high intensity strength training for stroke patients and they used intensities of 80% 1RM. Previous MST interventions have shown large increases in strength, rate of force development and this has transferred to improved walking economy.

The investigators predict that MST will give large increases in strength, improved rate of force development (RFD) and walking economy. The investigators expect that better neural function will account for the improvements. This study could provide evidence for the adoption of a completely different method of strength rehabilitation for stroke survivors.

Conditions

• Stroke

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Maximal strength training

Training will be carried out 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Each session will include a warm up, strength training and warm down. The total time will be approximately 1 hour. The training will consist 2 exercises (leg press and plantarflexion). Participants will train each leg individually with 4 sets of 4 repetitions at 90% of the 1 repetition maximum.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Norwegian University of Science and Technology

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Tom Tørhaug, MD · St.Olav's University hospital

• Jan Hoff, PhD · National Taiwan Normal University

• Jan Helgerud · National Taiwan Normal University

• Tor Ivar Gjellesvik · National Taiwan Normal University

• Marius Fimland · National Taiwan Normal University

• Per Marius R Moen · National Taiwan Normal University

• Tessa Hill · National Taiwan Normal University

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

67 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2009-11-30

Primary Completion

2010-03-31

Completion

2010-03-31

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations