Modulating Brain Excitability with Cardiovascular Exercise in Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Corticospinal excitability (CSE) is a surrogate measure of neuroplasticity within the corticospinal tract measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). A single bout of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) cardiovascular exercise (CE) have been both demonstrated to transiently augment CSE in people with stroke. However, the effect of multiple sessions of CE and exercise intensity is unknown.

Objectives

We conducted a randomized controlled trial (NCT03614585) to examine the effect of a HIIT vs. MICT CE program on CSE measures obtained using TMS applied on the ipsilesional (ILH) and contralesional (CLH) hemispheres.

Methods

Fifty-six individuals with cortical and/or subcortical stroke lesions in th

SUBMITTER: Rodrigues L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12476465 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature