Objective
To evaluate exercise capacity of subacute stroke patients with nonambulatory exercise stress test and to determine whether reduced exercise efficiency is associated with functional performance. Method: Experimental design was prospective and observational study. Eighteen patients with moderate to severe impairment after recent stroke performed exercise stress test by repeated knee flexion and extension exercise using isokinetic dynamometer. Work rate, oxygen consumption, heart rate were assessed during exercise stress test. The dynamic response, the ratio of change in oxygen uptake to change in work rate, was measured for correlation with FIM (Functional Independence Measure) scores. Occupational therapist recorded FIM scores on the day of transfer to inpatient rehabilitation unit and on discharge. Age-matched healthy group also performed exercise stress test in same settings. Results: The patients group who had similar dynamic response with age-matched healthy group showed higher FIM scores than the patients group having higher dynamic response. Conclusion: Nonambulatory exercise stress test could be effectively used in subacute stroke patients and the ratio of change in oxygen uptake to change in work rate was a useful variable to reveal low exercise efficiency in subacute stroke patients who had a abnormal skeletal muscle metabolic capacity. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2005; 29: 578-583)
