Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between exercise endurance and walking ability in hemiplegic patients after cerebral vascular accidents (CVA). The study group consisted of 29 hemiplegic patients after CVA. The subjects performed symptom-limited maximal exercise test using an electrically braked bicycle ergometer which car measure expired gases including oxygen uptake continuously. They also undertook 6 minutes walk test to record the walking distance (6MD). The maximum work rate (max WR) was 74.0±32.1 watts, peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) 16.7±4.2ml/min/kg, and 6MD 281.3±152.0m. A significant correlation was found between 6MD and max WR (r=0.685, p<0.0001). In addition, there was a significant correlation between 6MD and peak VO2 (r=0.568, p<0.01). We concluded that 6MD is available as an indicator of exercise endurance in hemiplegic patient after CVA.
