Objectives: This study aimed to explore the therapeutic efficacy of intensified walk training under the electrocardiogram (ECG) telemetry in stroke induced lower limb dysfunction patients with heart failure.
Material and methods: A total of 40 patients with stroke induced lower limb dysfunction and heart failure were randomized into control group and walk training group (n=20 per group). Besides comprehensive rehabilitation, patients in walk training group received intensified walk training under the ECG telemetry and patients in control group received traditional training. After 5-week treatment, the FMA score of lower limbs, ADL score, 6-min walking distance and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) by heart ultrasonography were determined.
Results: There were no marked differences in the demographics between two groups at baseline, and no severe complications were observed during training in the walk training group. In control group, 6 patients developed lung edema which required further therapy. After 5-week training, the FMA score of lower limbs, ADL score and 6-min walk distance were improved to different extents, but the improvement was more obvious in walk training group (P<0.05). The left ventricular EF remained unchanged in both groups.
Conclusions: In patients with stroke induced lower limb dysfunction and heart failure, routine rehabilitation in combination with additional walk training under the ECG telemetry is helpful to increase the training efficiency and training intensity and improve the low limb function and walk distance when the safety is assured.
Keywords: Stroke; electrocardiogram telemetry; exercise; heart failure.