Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

There are an estimated 50,000 strokes in Canada each year. Up to two-thirds of stroke survivors will experience difficulties with their physical function, such as walking, thinking and talking, and require rehabilitation. Inpatient rehabilitation occurs during the window of greatest brain recovery (the first 6 weeks after stroke) and provides a unique opportunity to assess the effect of novel interventions to maximize recovery. Currently, it is not known what exercise intensity and dose should be prescribed to stroke survivors to promote optimal recovery. There is evidence from experiments with animals that higher intensity exercise is beneficial, but this has not been established in humans. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility and effect of higher intensity exercise programs on walking and thinking abilities, as well as overall well-being, in individuals who have had a stroke. A total of 75 individuals admitted to inpatient stroke rehabilitation will be recruited for the trial. Participants will be randomized into 1 of 3 treatment programs (each 4 weeks duration): control group (1 hour daily usual care), higher intensity (1 hour daily higher intensity exercise), or extra intensity (2 hours daily higher intensity exercise). All groups will be measured at admission, near discharge (4 weeks later), and 6 and 12 months after stroke. This will be the first study to determine the dose effect of exercise in the early recovery period after stroke when there is the most potential for brain recovery. This study has the potential to improve the function, thinking, and overall well-being of individuals after stroke.