Locomotor training intensity after stroke: Effects of interval type and mode.
Pierce Boyne, Victoria Scholl, Sarah Doren and 7 others
PMID 32063178WHAT IT FOUND
Short-interval HIIT produced faster walking speeds, while long-interval HIIT produced more steps and higher heart rates overground.
Treadmill training was faster and harder for short-interval work, but slower and no harder for long-interval work.
Key findings
01Short-interval HIIT resulted in significantly faster overground and treadmill walking speeds compared to long-interval HIIT.
02Long-interval HIIT resulted in significantly higher overground heart rates and total step counts compared to short-interval HIIT.
03During short-interval HIIT, treadmill training was faster and had higher heart rates than overground training, but during long-interval HIIT, overground training was faster while heart rates were similar.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study did not measure functional outcomes like gait recovery or aerobic fitness improvements, only the intensity of the training itself. The sample size was small (n=10), limiting the generalizability of findings. Treadmill training was always performed in the middle of the session, which could have confounded comparisons with overground training due to fatigue or warm-up effects. The step monitor used likely underestimated step counts for participants with slower walking speeds. Subgroup analyses based on baseline gait speed had very small sample sizes and are not reliable.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that one HIIT protocol leads to better clinical recovery than the other. The study only measured training intensity variables (speed, heart rate, steps), not long-term improvements in gait or fitness.