PMID 31316451

Research
All papers

Effect of Home-Based High-Intensity Interval Training in Patients With Lacunar Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Steen Krawcyk R, Vinther A, Petersen NC, Faber J, Iversen HK, Christensen T, Lambertsen KL, Rehman S, Klausen TW, Rostrup E, Kruuse C

Question

Can home-based HIIT improve fitness, activity, and related health outcomes after lacunar stroke?

Summary

Adults recently diagnosed with lacunar stroke were randomized to usual care or 12 weeks of home-based HIIT plus usual care. The program appeared feasible and did not cause intervention-related adverse events, but it did not significantly improve the primary graded cycling test outcome compared with usual care.

Methodology

  • Patients within 3 weeks of lacunar stroke or compatible minor cerebrovascular event
  • 71 participants.
  • Self-selected, stationary bike if needed.
  • Work intervals: 3 minutes.
  • Recovery: 2 minutes active recovery.
  • Intensity: 77-93% HRmax; Borg 14-16; Talk Test unable to speak comfortably.
  • About 13 minutes excluding warm-up/cooldown.
  • 5 sessions/week.
  • 12 weeks.
  • Randomized controlled trial
  • Primary fitness, Physical activity, Secondary health outcomes, and Safety were tracked.

Outcomes

Primary fitness

The primary graded cycling test outcome did not improve significantly versus usual care.

Group change p=.90.

No clear change

Vigorous activity

Self-reported vigorous activity increased more with HIIT than usual care.

2.0 h/week versus 0.6 h/week, p=.045.

Improved

Safety

No intervention-related adverse events were reported.

Descriptive adverse-event finding.

No clear change

Insights

  • Talk Test plus RPE can make intensity guidance usable outside a lab.
  • Clinical-risk protocols need explicit clearance, check-ins, and adverse-event monitoring.
  • Feasibility and increased activity do not necessarily mean improved primary fitness outcomes.

Limitations

  • Clinical special population with extensive exclusions.
  • Primary outcome was null.
  • Adherence and dropout details were not fully captured from the extracted passages.
  • Home support may not generalize to unsupervised app-only use.

Safety

  • No intervention-related adverse events were reported.
  • Participants had extensive cardiovascular and neurologic exclusions.