Aerobic Fitness After Stroke at Five Months
| Patient | 66F, chronic phase |
|---|---|
| Lesion | MCA territory, minor |
| Severity | NIHSS 2 |
| Days since onset | 150 |
| Before the strokeWalked the dog twice daily, line-danced weekly | |
| Also on the chartControlled hypertension; Family history of cardiac disease — her fear’s source | |
| PrecautionsMonitor exertion response in early sessions; Report chest pain or unusual breathlessness | |
Test yourself
What does the evidence support for her deconditioning?
The teaching
Cardiorespiratory training improves fitness and walking capacity after stroke (Saunders 2020) Deconditioning is a risk factor — blanket rest advice protects patients into recurrence Dose from a baseline, steer with perceived exertion, retest the six-minute walk
Read next
The full sequence
This page carries the case’s first decision. The full sequence — every decision, the five-domain examination, and the debrief that grades you — is in the drill, and the library is included with membership.
Sources on this page: Saunders 2020, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, physical fitness training after stroke. Winstein 2016, Stroke, guideline for adult stroke rehabilitation and recovery · Saunders 2020, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, physical fitness training after stroke. Moore 2018, Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, core set of outcome measures for adults after stroke