Training intensity during conventional rehabilitation for post-stroke patients with hemiparesis and cardiorespiratory stress: a review

Abstract

Introduction: Physical rehabilitation should have adequate intensities to provide cardiopulmonary stresses to minimize deconditioning presented by individuals post stroke. Objective: To review the literature regarding the intensity of the physical rehabilitation sessions, which were able to provide cardiorespiratory stresses in stroke subjects. Methods: This literature review included studies which evaluated cardiorespiratory stresses based upon the target heart rates of stroke subjects. A search of the literature was conducted in the Medline, SciELO, Embase, and PEDro databases. Results: Three cross-sectional and one longitudinal study were found, with the total sample of 78 stroke individuals; totalling 267 sessions. The results of all studies showed that the intensity of the sessions was not capable of providing adequate cardiopulmonary stresses. The activity which provided higher cardiorespiratory stresses was gait. Conclusion: Exercise intensity during physical rehabilitation is not able to provide adequate cardiorespiratory stresses in stroke individuals.