What Is Intensity and How Can It Benefit Exercise Intervention in People With Stroke? A Rapid Review.
Gavin Church, Christine Smith, Ali Ali and 1 others
PMID 36188814WHAT IT FOUND
High-intensity exercise appears safe for people with stroke, with no adverse events reported in the studies reviewed.
However, there is no agreed definition of intensity, and most studies measured body changes rather than how much people could actually do in daily life.
Key findings
01Safety was supported in all studies as there was no mention of adverse events or dropouts.
02There is no clear consensus on how to define exercise intensity for people with stroke, despite varied methods like heart rate or perceived exertion.
03Most studies focused on body function outcomes like heart rate or strength, rather than activity or participation outcomes which are more relevant to daily life.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The review included only 17 studies with small sample sizes (6 to 36 participants), limiting the certainty of findings. There is no standardized definition of 'intensity' across the included studies, making it difficult to compare results or prescribe a specific dose. Most studies measured body function (e.g., heart rate, strength) rather than activity or participation, so the impact on daily life is unclear. The review excluded non-English papers and grey literature, and used a single reviewer for most screening, which may introduce bias. Follow-up periods were short (maximum 3 months), so long-term effects and adherence are unknown.
Declared interests
One author was funded by Health Education England and the National Institute for Health Research. The authors declared no commercial or financial conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that high-intensity exercise leads to meaningful improvements in daily function or participation. The review found that most studies measured physiological changes like heart rate or strength, not how well patients performed everyday tasks, and there is no consensus on what constitutes 'intensity' for this population.