Title : Assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness of individuals after stroke
Abstract:
Individuals after stroke have low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) (maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max)). The CRF informs about the capacity of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to supply blood rich in oxygen and about the capacity of the muscular system to use it during sustained physical activity. In addition, it has been considered as a clinical vital sign that should be routinely evaluated. Low levels of CRF of individuals after stroke are associated with limitations to perform activities of daily living and increased risk of death. Thus, it is recommended that these individuals should perform aerobic exercise to increase the level of CRF. For this, the CRF of these individuals should be carefully and systematically evaluated. The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is considered the gold standard for assessing the CRF. However, this test has limited clinical applicability. Therefore, other strategies for obtaining the VO2max that have better clinical applicability than the CPET should be investigated, for example, equations to predict the VO2max. However, this equation has not been developed for individuals after stroke and the equations developed to predict the VO2max of able-bodied and sedentary individuals are also not valid to predict the VO2max of these individuals. In conclusion, the assessment of CRF of individuals after stroke is complex and multidimensional (vital data, history, field tests (6-Minute Walk Test, Incremental Shuttle Walking Test), Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), and Human Activity Profile (HAP)) and must consider the potential barriers that may prevent the patient from participating in the training program.
