Effects of detraining on cardiorespiratory fitness of individuals with chronic stroke.

Background: Aerobic training can improve cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals after stroke. However, the effects of short-term and long-term detraining are not well known.

Objective: To determine the effects of short-term (1-month) and long-term (6-month) detraining on cardiorespiratory fitness (VO) of individuals after stroke, who participated in aerobic training.

Methods: A cohort study was developed. Twenty adults (57 ± 11 years old) with stroke were included. After completing an outpatient aerobic training, participants were divided into gain group (VO increase >1.3 ml.kg.min from before to immediately after the training) or non-gain group (VO change ≤1.3 ml.kg.min). Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO), obtained by the cardiopulmonary exercise test was assessed one and 6 months after the end of the training (short- and long-term detraining, respectively), or collected retrospectively from patient chart (before and after the training).

Results: There was found a significant interaction effect (time*group) for VO (= 6.108;). Higher values in the VO observed in the gain group with the aerobic training (F = 25.86; < .001) were significantly reduced with short-term detraining, reaching values similar to that observed before the training and to that of the non-gain group (F = 14.81;= .001). Both groups had similar VO values within long-term detraining (F = 2.70;= .12), with no significant differences from the values observed before the training and after short-term detraining (0.11 ≤ ≤ 1.00).

Conclusions: Detraining on cardiorespiratory fitness of individuals after chronic stroke occurred within only 1 month. Therefore, it is important to maintain aerobic training throughout life.