A recent study has revealed that repeating high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for one minute improves aerobic fitness after a stroke.
Research published in the journal Stroke indicates that HIIT is more effective than traditional exercise forms for recovering aerobic fitness after a stroke.
While strokes are treatable, experts estimate that more than 60% of stroke survivors require rehabilitation. This rehabilitation treatment may include speech, occupational, and physical therapy, depending on the individual.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, HIIT should elevate heart rates to 80 to 95% of maximum heart rate, with exercise durations set at around 5 to 8 seconds.
The research involved 82 people who had experienced a stroke between six months and five years prior. The participants were instructed to engage thrice a week in either HIIT or traditional aerobic exercise for twelve weeks. The researchers noted that the HIIT group performed high-intensity exercise for 10 sessions of 1 minute each, followed by 9 sessions of one-minute low-intensity recovery exercise.
The results showed that the cardiovascular fitness levels of the HIIT group participants improved twofold compared to the control group. Further, the researchers pointed out that the HIIT group maintained clinically significant improvements eight weeks after the study ended, while the control group did not.
These findings suggest that HIIT has greater effects and lasts longer, making it an effective exercise method for reducing the risk of another stroke in stroke patients.
The research team concluded that HIIT can improve aerobic fitness more quickly and reduce the risk of stroke recurrence more effectively than traditional forms of aerobic exercise.
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