The Effects of High-Rate Stationary Cycling on Locomotor Function in Persons With Stroke

Current clinical guidelines recommend intensive, task-specific gait training to improve ambulatory function. However, high cadence cycling may improve gait by training muscle groups to work synergistically to ensure smooth intra- and interlimb reciprocal activation. Results of a clinical trial will be presented in which we investigated changes in spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics of gait in individuals participating in an 8-week forced-rate aerobic cycling intervention compared to a non-cycling control group. Forced-rate cycling is an aerobic exercise approach in which the voluntary efforts of individuals are supplemented, allowing participants to achieve a greater exercise rate and intensity than what they can voluntarily achieve. Following the 8-week intervention, significant improvements in gait velocity were measured, accompanied by improvements in spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics of gait. The training associated with cycling appeared to elicit improvements in locomotor control in the absence of task-specific gait training.