The following is a summary of “Effect of High‐Intensity Interval Training and Moderate‐Intensity Continuous Training in People With Poststroke Gait Dysfunction: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” published in the November 2023 issue of Cardiology by Marzolini et al.

In this 24-week randomized clinical trial involving individuals with poststroke gait dysfunction, the researchers aimed to compare the effects of conventional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) versus high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiorespiratory fitness (VO_2peak) and walking capacity (measured by the 6-minute walk distance [6MWD]). Participants were randomized to either MICT (5 days/week) or HIIT (3 days/week HIIT and 2 days/week MICT). MICT was targeted at the ventilatory anaerobic threshold, while HIIT incorporated intervals at maximal tolerable treadmill speed/grade (30:60 and 120:180 seconds). VO₂ and heart rate were monitored during exercises prescribed at 8 and 24 weeks for treatment adherence.

The primary outcomes were changes in VO_2peak and 6MWD. Among the 47 participants completing the study, HIIT demonstrated a more than two-fold greater improvement in VO_2peak compared to MICT, with a mean difference of 3.2 mL·kg−1·min−1 (95% CI, 1.5–4.8; P<0.001). However, the change in 6MWD between HIIT and MICT groups was not significantly different (mean difference 12.5 meters [95% CI, -17 to 42]; P=0.401). HIIT also showed superior enhancement in ventilatory anaerobic threshold compared to MICT (mean difference, 2.07 mL·kg−1·min−1 [95% CI, 0.59–3.6]; P=0.008). No significant differences were observed between groups for other secondary outcomes. These findings support the notion that HIIT might offer substantially greater cardiorespiratory fitness enhancements than traditional MICT among appropriately selected individuals with poststroke gait dysfunction.

Source: ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.123.031532