Study | Participant characteristics (N, diagnosis, average age, % male) | Setting | Intervention initiation (poststroke/TIA) | Intervention and control description | Frequency and duration | Outcome measures |
Potempa et al
31
USA | n=42 (19 intervention) Hemiplegic stroke Age range 21–77 years Male 54.8% | Exercise laboratory | >6 months | Intervention: aerobic exercise training programme using leg cycle ergometer aiming for 30%–50% HRR. Control: passive range of motion protocol. | Frequency: 3×per week Session length: 30 min Duration: 10 weeks | Baseline and at 10 weeks:
|
Katz-Leurer et al
32
Israel | n=92 (46 intervention) Moderate severity stroke (SSS) Age 63 years Male 54.3% | Outpatient clinic | <48 hours | Intervention: aerobic programme of leg cycle ergometry increasing from 10 min 5 times per week to 30 min 3×a week, aiming for 60% HRR. Control: passive stretching. | Frequency: 3–5×per week Session length: 10–30 min Duration: 8 weeks | Baseline and at 8 weeks:
|
Ivey et al
33
USA | n=46 (26 intervention) Hemiplegic stroke Age 63.1 years Male—unclear | Unclear | >6 months | Intervention: progressive treadmill exercise training (T-AEX) aiming for 40%–50% HRR. Control: passive stretching. | Frequency: 3×per week Session length: 40 min Duration: 6 months | Baseline and at 10 weeks:
|
Lennon et al
34
Ireland | n=46 (23 intervention) All stroke severities (~75% ambulant) Age 60 years Male 60.9% | Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programme | >1 year | Intervention: upper or lower limb cycle ergometry aiming for 50%–60% HRR, along with 2×life skills sessions (stress and relaxation). Control: usual care (functional activities, balance and gait). | Frequency: 2×per week Session length: 30 min Duration: 10 weeks | Baseline and at 10 weeks:
|
Rimmer et al
35
USA | n=41 (14 MISD, 14 LILD, 13 TE) Hemiplegic stroke Age 59.6 years Male 40% | University-based medical centre | >6 months | Intervention: MISD—increasing target HR every 4 weeks (40%–49% HRR, 50%–59% HRR, 60%–69% HRR). LILD aimed to increase exercise time each 4 weeks (30, 45, 60 min). Control: balance and gait activities (TE). | Frequency: 3×per week Session length: 30–60 min Duration: 14 weeks | Baseline and at 14 weeks:
|
Toledano-Zarhi et al
36
Israel | n=28 (14 intervention) Minor stroke Age 65 years Male 75% | Outpatient clinic | 1–3 weeks | Intervention: 2×weekly sessions of treadmill, arm and leg cycle ergometry aiming for target 50%–70% HRR and 1 session of strength, flexibility and coordination training. Control: usual care (stretching and functional activities). | Frequency: 3×per week Session length: 35–55 min Duration: 6 weeks | Baseline and 3 months:
|
Faulkner et al
37
New Zealand | n=60 (30 intervention) TIA Age 69 years Male 52% | Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation clinic | <2 weeks | Intervention: 2× weekly 90 min sessions of walking and cycling exercise aiming for 50%–85% HRR, increasing incrementally each week. Also 1× weekly 30 min health education session (vascular risk, stroke prevention, nutrition, BP, medication compliance, stress). Control: routine care and secondary prevention advice | Frequency: 3×per week Session length: 30–90 min Duration: 8 weeks | Baseline, 8 weeks and 3 months:
|
Liu and Yan38
China | n=98 (50 intervention) Moderate to severe stroke Age 55 years Male 49% | Hospital clinic | >2 weeks | Intervention: treadmill exercise programme aiming for target HR (170-age)/min. Control: standard rehabilitation programme not involving aerobic exercise | Frequency: 5×per week Session length: 30–40 min Duration: 6 weeks | Baseline and at 6 weeks:
|
Kono et al
39
Japan | n=70 (35 intervention) Mild stroke (non-cardioembolic) Age 63.5 years Male 68.6% | Hospital clinic or home based | >1 month | Intervention: clinic based—5 min warm up, 20–30 min cycle ergometry, 20 min resistance exercises, 5 min cool down. Alternatively, home based—6000 steps daily, 30–60 min walking 3–5×per week. Lifestyle modification education (diet, smoking, alcohol). Control: lifestyle modification education only. | Frequency: 1–2×per week clinic based or 3–5×per week home based Session length: 60 min Duration: 24 weeks | Baseline and 3 months and 6 months:
|
Jin et al
40
China | n=128 (65 intervention) Mild stroke (ambulant) Age 57 years Male 71.2% | Outpatient rehabilitation clinic | >6 months | Intervention: aerobic cycling training aiming for 50%–70% HRR. Control: passive stretching and walking (20%–30% HRR) | Frequency: 5×per week Session length: 40 min Duration: 12 weeks | Baseline and 12 weeks:
|
Boss et al
41
The Netherlands | n=20 (10 intervention) Mild stroke or TIA Age 63 years Male 70% | Outpatient stroke clinic | <1 week | Intervention: aerobic exercise and strength training, with incremental intensity. Control: usual care. | Frequency: 3×per week Session length: 60 min Duration: 8 weeks | Baseline and at 6 and 12 months:
|
Xinzhou42
, China | n=45 (15 aerobic exercise, 15 aerobic and resistance, 15 control) Mild stroke Age range 39–68 years Male—unclear | Hospital clinic | <6 months | Intervention: 5× weekly sessions of aerobic treadmill training aiming for 50%–80% HRR, with or without elastic band resistance training. Control: usual care. | Frequency: 5×per week Session length: 40–60 min Duration: 8 weeks | Baseline and at 6 weeks:
|
Kirk et al
43
UK | n=24 (12 intervention) Mild stroke or TIA Age 67 years Male 79.2% | Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation clinic | <1 month | Intervention: circuit training (walking, running, press-ups, squats, shoulder press, bicep curls, step ups, arm raises) aiming for 50%–70% HRR. Health education (exercise, alcohol, diet, medications). Control: usual care. | Frequency: 1–2×per week Session length: 60 min Duration: 18 weeks | Baseline and at 6 months:
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Wang et al
44
China | n=48 (24 intervention) Severe stroke Age 56 years Male 73% | Outpatient rehabilitation clinic | 2–6 weeks | Intervention: leg cycle ergomtery aiming for 50%–70% HRR. Control: usual care (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, Chinese manipulation). | Frequency: 3×per week Session length: 40 min Duration: 6 weeks | Baseline and 6 weeks:
|
Wang et al
45
China | n=54 (27 intervention) Severe stroke Age 53 years Male 70.4% | Outpatient rehabilitation clinic | 1–6 months | Intervention: leg cycle ergomtery aiming for 50%–70% HRR. Control: usual care (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, Chinese manipulation). | Frequency: 3×per week Session length: 40 min Duration: 6 weeks | Baseline and 6 weeks:
|
Tang et al
46
Canada | n=50 (25 intervention) Mild stroke Age 66 years Male 58% | Outpatient research facility | >1 year | Intervention: progressive intensity exercises involving incline walking, cycle ergometry, sit to stands, step ups. Intensity increase from 40% to 70%–80% HRR every 4 weeks. Control: balance, flexibility, stretching (<40% HRR). | Frequency: 3×per week Session length: 60 min Duration: 6 months | Baseline and 6 months:
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Woolley et al
47
New Zealand | n=25 (13 intervention) TIA Age 66 years Male 84% | Outpatient rehabilitation clinic | <2 weeks | Intervention: 30 min session of aerobic exercise (cycling and treadmill walking) aiming for 50%–85% HRR. Followed by 60 min session of upper and lower body resistance, balance and core-stability exercises. Control: usual care. | Frequency: 2×per week Session length: 90 min Duration: 8 weeks | Baseline and at 8 weeks
|
Lee et al
48
Korea | n=26 (14 intervention) Hemiplegic stroke Age 64 years Male— unclear | Community rehabilitation clinic | >1 year | Intervention: combined aerobic (20 min incline walk, steps) and resistance (20 min squats, lunges, flexion/extension shoulders, hips, knees) exercise aiming for 50%–60% HRR, along with stretching. Control: walking, playing Korean chess. | Frequency: 3×per week Session length: 90 min Duration: 16 weeks | Baseline and 6 months:
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Zou et al
49
China | n=56 (28 intervention) Mild stroke Age 52 years Male 39.3% | Outpatient rehabilitation clinics | >6 months | Intervention: resistance leg training (leg press, extension, curls) aiming for muscle failure between 10 and 12 repetitions. Control: active and passive stretching. | Frequency: 3×per week Session length: 40 min Duration: 8 weeks | Baseline and at 19 weeks:
|
Moore et al
50
UK | n=40 (20 intervention) Mild stroke Age 69 years Male 85% | Community leisure centres | >6 months | Intervention: mixed balance and strength training (40%–50% HRR increasing to 70%–80% HRR by week 4) Control: matched-duration home stretching programme. | Frequency: 3×per week Session length: 45–60 min Duration: 19 weeks | Baseline and at 19 weeks:
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HRR, heart rate reserve; BP, blood pressure; HR, heart rate; FG, fasting glucose; BMI, body mass index; LILD, low intensity longer duration; MISD, moderate intensity short duration; SSS, Scandinavian Stroke Scaler; TC, total cholesterol; TE, therapeutic exercise; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.