Background: Despite the beneficial effect of cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction, a rehabilitation program to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and influence secondary prevention has not been implemented for ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Objective: To investigate the safety and feasibility of a post-stroke care including an exercise program after minor ischemic stroke or TIA.
Methods: In a randomised controlled trial, 20 patients with a recent minor stroke or TIA without cardiac contraindications were randomly assigned to one of the two interventions; post-stroke care without exercise or post-stroke care with exercise. Patients were evaluated at baseline, 6 and 12 months.
Results: Eighteen patients completed the intervention. In none of the patients cardiopulmonary contraindications for the maximal exercise test and exercise program were found. No cardiovascular events occurred during the maximal exercise tests and exercise program. After one year, significantly more patients in the post-stroke care with exercise group achieved the composite endpoint of optimal medical therapy.
Conclusions: Post-stroke care including an exercise program is safe and feasible in the acute phase after minor stroke or TIA and might be a way to increase effectiveness of secondary stroke prevention. We are currently conducting a larger trial to validate these results.
Keywords: Ischemic stroke; TIA; physical exercise; secondary prevention.