I’m sure you know the HITT training principle, yes? But now, stroke rehabilitation professionals now have firm evidence to support implementing short, high-intensity interval training protocols in clinical practice (and by extension, into the community).
A study published just last week in Stroke, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Heart Association noted the first randomised trial to examine a time-efficient, high intensity interval training programme to incorporate a phased and progressive approach.
An adaptive recumbent stepper was used, which was justified in that in meant more people could participate in high-intensity interval training, even those who cannot walk fast enough or long enough on a treadmill.
For us stroke survivors, it suggests that with the right support and guidance, stroke survivors can safely and effectively engage in high-intensity interval training, significantly improving their overall health and recovery.
Kevin Moncion, Lynden Rodrigues, Bernat De Las Heras, Kenneth S. Noguchi, Elise Wiley, Janice J. Eng, Marilyn MacKay-Lyons, Shane N. Sweet, Alexander Thiel, Joyce Fung, Paul Stratford, Julie A. Richardson, Maureen J. MacDonald, Marc Roig, Ada Tang. Cardiorespiratory Fitness Benefits of High-Intensity Interval Training After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Stroke, 2024;
DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.124.046564