Objective: To evaluate the relation between walking capacity and maximal exercise capacity, strength and motor deficiency in hemiplegic stroke patients.
Design: Uncontrolled observational study.
Setting: Physical medicine and rehabilitation unit in a teaching hospital.
Participants: Twenty hemiplegic stroke patients (17 men and 3 women) aged 18-70 years, whose stroke occurred more than 3 months before the study and who could walk independently with or without walking aids.
Main outcome measures: Peak oxygen uptake (VO(2peak)), maximal power output walking capacity (6-min walk test) and motor deficiency (Fugl-Meyer scale).
Results: Walking capacity was correlated with both VO(2peak) and maximal power output (Pmax) [r=0.609, P<0.003 and r=0.868, P<0.0001, respectively] but also with strength (from r=0.640 to r=0.734; P=0.0018 to P=0.0001) and motor deficiency (r=0.6; P=0.004).
Conclusions: Aerobic capacity and walking capacity are correlated and decreased in hemiplegic stroke patients. These results underscore the need for future studies to confirm the role of fitness in relation to walking capacity and to evaluate the benefit of integrating aerobic training into more traditional rehabilitation programs after stroke.