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Physical fitness training in Subacute Stroke (PHYS-STROKE)--study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Given the rising number of strokes worldwide, and the large number of individuals left with disabilities after stroke, novel strategies to reduce disability, increase functions in the motor and the cognitive domains, and improve quality of life are of major importance. Physical activity is a promising intervention to address these challenges but, as yet, there is no study demonstrating definite outcomes. Our objective is to assess whether additional treatment in the form of physical fitness-based training for patients early after stroke will provide benefits in terms of functional outcomes, in particular gait speed and the Barthel Index (co-primary outcome measures) reflecting activities of daily living (ADL). We will gather secondary functional outcomes as well as mechanistic parameters in an exploratory approach. METHODS/DESIGN:Our phase III randomised controlled trial will recruit 215 adults with moderate to severe limitations of walking and ADL 5 to 45 days after stroke onset. Participants will be stratified for the prognostic variables of "centre", "age", and "stroke severity", and randomly assigned to one of two groups. The interventional group receives physical fitness training delivered as supported or unsupported treadmill training (cardiovascular active aerobic training; five times per week, over 4 weeks; each session 50 minutes; total of 20 additional physical fitness training sessions) in addition to standard rehabilitation treatment. The control intervention consists of relaxation sessions (non-cardiovascular active; five times per week week, over 4 weeks; each session 50 minutes) in addition to standard rehabilitation treatment. Co-primary efficacy endpoints will be gait speed (in m/s, 10 m walk) and the Barthel Index (100 points total) at 3 months post-stroke, compared to baseline measurements. Secondary outcomes include standard measures of quality of life, sleep and mood, cognition, arm function, maximal oxygen uptake, and cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure, pulse, waist-to-hip ratio, markers of inflammation, immunity and the insulin-glucose pathway, lipid profile, and others. DISCUSSION:The goal of this endpoint-blinded, phase III randomised controlled trial is to provide evidence to guide post-stroke physical fitness-based rehabilitation programmes, and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION:Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with the Identifier NCT01953549.

SUBMITTER: Floel A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3922602 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Physical fitness training in Subacute Stroke (PHYS-STROKE)--study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Flöel Agnes A Werner Cordula C Grittner Ulrike U Hesse Stefan S Jöbges Michael M Knauss Janet J Seifert Michael M Steinhagen-Thiessen Elisabeth E Gövercin Mehmet M Dohle Christian C Fischer Wolfgang W Schlieder Regina R Nave Alexander Heinrich AH Meisel Andreas A Ebinger Martin M Wellwood Ian I

Trials 20140203

<h4>Background</h4>Given the rising number of strokes worldwide, and the large number of individuals left with disabilities after stroke, novel strategies to reduce disability, increase functions in the motor and the cognitive domains, and improve quality of life are of major importance. Physical activity is a promising intervention to address these challenges but, as yet, there is no study demonstrating definite outcomes. Our objective is to assess whether additional treatment in the form of ph ...[more]

PMID: 24491065

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Project description:ObjectiveTo determine the safety and efficacy of aerobic exercise on activities of daily living in the subacute phase after stroke.DesignMulticentre, randomised controlled, endpoint blinded trial.SettingSeven inpatient rehabilitation sites in Germany (2013-17).Participants200 adults with subacute stroke (days 5-45 after stroke) with a median National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS, range 0-42 points, higher values indicating more severe strokes) score of 8 (interquartile range 5-12) were randomly assigned (1:1) to aerobic physical fitness training (n=105) or relaxation sessions (n=95, control group) in addition to standard care.InterventionParticipants received either aerobic, bodyweight supported, treadmill based physical fitness training or relaxation sessions, each for 25 minutes, five times weekly for four weeks, in addition to standard rehabilitation therapy. Investigators and endpoint assessors were masked to treatment assignment.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcomes were change in maximal walking speed (m/s) in the 10 m walking test and change in Barthel index scores (range 0-100 points, higher scores indicating less disability) three months after stroke compared with baseline. Safety outcomes were recurrent cardiovascular events, including stroke, hospital readmissions, and death within three months after stroke. Efficacy was tested with analysis of covariance for each primary outcome in the full analysis set. Multiple imputation was used to account for missing values.ResultsCompared with relaxation, aerobic physical fitness training did not result in a significantly higher mean change in maximal walking speed (adjusted treatment effect 0.1 m/s (95% confidence interval 0.0 to 0.2 m/s), P=0.23) or mean change in Barthel index score (0 (-5 to 5), P=0.99) at three months after stroke. A higher rate of serious adverse events was observed in the aerobic group compared with relaxation group (incidence rate ratio 1.81, 95% confidence interval 0.97 to 3.36).ConclusionsAmong moderately to severely affected adults with subacute stroke, aerobic bodyweight supported, treadmill based physical fitness training was not superior to relaxation sessions for maximal walking speed and Barthel index score but did suggest higher rates of adverse events. These results do not appear to support the use of aerobic bodyweight supported fitness training in people with subacute stroke to improve activities of daily living or maximal walking speed and should be considered in future guidelines.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01953549.

Project description:Background and aimTo report the six-month safety analyses among patients enrolled in the "Physical Fitness Training in Subacute Stroke-PHYS-STROKE" trial and identify underlying risk factors associated with serious adverse events.MethodsWe performed a pre-specified safety analysis of a multicenter, randomized controlled, endpoint-blinded trial comprising 200 patients with moderate to severe subacute stroke (days 5-45 after stroke) that were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either aerobic, bodyweight supported, treadmill-based training (n = 105), or relaxation sessions (n = 95, control group). Each intervention session lasted for 25 min, five times weekly for four weeks, in addition to standard rehabilitation therapy. Serious adverse events defined as cerebro- and cardiovascular events, readmission to hospital, and death were assessed during six months of follow-up. Incident rate ratios (IRR) were calculated, and Poisson regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for serious adverse events and to test the association with aerobic training.ResultsSix months after stroke, 50 serious adverse events occurred in the trial with a higher incidence rate (per 100 patient-months) in the training group compared to the relaxation group (6.31 vs. 3.22; IRR 1.70, 95% CI 0.96 to 3.12). The association of aerobic training with serious adverse events incidence rates were modified by diabetes mellitus (IRR for interaction: 7.10, 95% CI 1.56 to 51.24) and by atrial fibrillation (IRR for interaction: 4.37, 95% CI 0.97 to 31.81).ConclusionsSafety analysis of the PHYS-STROKE trial found a higher rate of serious adverse events in patients randomized to aerobic training compared to control within six months after stroke. Exploratory analyses found an association between serious adverse events occurrence in the aerobic training group with pre-existing diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation which should be further investigated in future trials.Data access statementThe raw data and analyses scripts are provided by the authors on a secure online repository for reproduction of reported findings.

Project description:BackgroundStroke patients are often affected by arm paresis, have functional impairments and receive help from professional or informal caregivers. Progressive resistance training is a common intervention for functional impairments after paresis. Randomised controlled trials (RCT) showed benefits for functional recovery after resistance training. However, there is a lack of evidence for strength training in subacute stroke patients. The aim of this study is to investigate safety and effectiveness of arm strength training in subacute stroke patients.MethodsWe will conduct a prospective, assessor-blinded RCT of people with subacute stroke. We will randomly assign patients to one of two parallel groups in a 1:1 ratio and will use concealed allocation. The intervention group will receive, in addition to standard treatment, high-intensity arm training (three times per week, over three weeks; 60 min each session; with a total of nine additional sessions). The control group will receive, in addition to standard treatment, low-intensity arm training (same quantity, frequency and treatment time as the intervention group). Standard treatment for the affected arm includes mobilisation, stretching, therapeutic positioning, arm and hand motor training, strengthening exercises, mechanical assisted training, functional training and task-oriented training. The primary efficacy endpoint will be grip strength. Secondary outcome measures will be Modified Ashworth Scale, Motricity Index, Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the upper limb, Box and Block Test and Goal Attainment Scale for individual participatory goals. We will measure primary and secondary outcomes with blinded assessors at baseline and immediately after three weeks of additional therapy. Based on our sample size calculation, 78 patients will be recruited from our rehabilitation hospital in two and a half years. Drop-out rates and adverse events will be systematically recorded.DiscussionThis study attempts to close the evidence gap for effects of arm strength training in subacute stroke patients. The results of this trial will provide robust evidence for effects and safety of high-intensity arm training for people with stroke.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00012484 . Registered on 26 May 2017.

Project description:Background: Inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive Protein (CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and fibrinogen, are upregulated following acute stroke. Studies have shown associations of these biomarkers with increased mortality, recurrent vascular risk, and poor functional outcome. It is suggested that physical fitness training may play a role in decreasing long-term inflammatory activity and supports tissue recovery. Aim: We investigated the dynamics of selected inflammatory markers in the subacute phase following stroke and determined if fluctuations are associated with functional recovery up to 6 months. Further, we examined whether exposure to aerobic physical fitness training in the subacute phase influenced serum inflammatory markers over time. Methods: This is an exploratory analysis of patients enrolled in the multicenter randomized-controlled PHYS-STROKE trial. Patients within 45 days of stroke onset were randomized to receive either four weeks of aerobic physical fitness training or relaxation sessions. Generalized estimating equation models were used to investigate the dynamics of inflammatory markers and the associations of exposure to fitness training with serum inflammatory markers over time. Multiple logistic regression models were used to explore associations between inflammatory marker levels at baseline and three months after stroke and outcome at 3- or 6-months. Results: Irrespective of the intervention group, high sensitive CRP (hs-CRP), IL-6, and fibrinogen (but not TNF-alpha) were significantly lower at follow-up visits when compared to baseline (p all ≤ 0.01). In our cohort, exposure to aerobic physical fitness training did not influence levels of inflammatory markers over time. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, increased baseline IL-6 and fibrinogen levels were inversely associated with worse outcome at 3 and 6 months. Increased levels of hs-CRP at 3 months after stroke were associated with impaired outcome at 6 months. We found no independent associations of TNF-alpha levels with investigated outcome parameters. Conclusion: Serum markers of inflammation were elevated after stroke and decreased within 6 months. In our cohort, exposure to aerobic physical fitness training did not modify the dynamics of inflammatory markers over time. Elevated IL-6 and fibrinogen levels in early subacute stroke were associated with worse outcome up to 6-months after stroke. Clinical Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01953549.

Project description:IntroductionMany patients with stroke have moderate to severe long-term sensorimotor impairments, often including inability to execute movements of the affected arm or hand. Limited recovery from stroke may be partly caused by imbalanced interaction between the cerebral hemispheres, with reduced excitability of the ipsilesional motor cortex while excitability of the contralesional motor cortex is increased. Non-invasive brain stimulation with inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the contralesional hemisphere may aid in relieving a post-stroke interhemispheric excitability imbalance, which could improve functional recovery. There are encouraging effects of theta burst stimulation (TBS), a form of TMS, in patients with chronic stroke, but evidence on efficacy and long-term effects on arm function of contralesional TBS in patients with subacute hemiparetic stroke is lacking.Methods and analysisIn a randomised clinical trial, we will assign 60 patients with a first-ever ischaemic stroke in the previous 7-14 days and a persistent paresis of one arm to 10 sessions of real stimulation with TBS of the contralesional primary motor cortex or to sham stimulation over a period of 2?weeks. Both types of stimulation will be followed by upper limb training. A subset of patients will undergo five MRI sessions to assess post-stroke brain reorganisation. The primary outcome measure will be the upper limb function score, assessed from grasp, grip, pinch and gross movements in the action research arm test, measured at 3?months after stroke. Patients will be blinded to treatment allocation. The primary outcome at 3?months will also be assessed in a blinded fashion.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. The results will be disseminated through (open access) peer-reviewed publications, networks of scientists, professionals and the public, and presented at conferences.Trial registration numberNTR6133.

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Physical fitness training in Subacute Stroke (PHYS-STROKE)--study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

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Physical fitness training in Subacute Stroke (PHYS-STROKE)--study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

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