Research

Mixed

Higher frequency, power-focused intensity, and traditional strength training programs yield superior improvements in walking capacity, speed, and quality of life compared to other prescriptions.

To get the most out of strength training after a stroke, focus on moving quickly (power) rather than just lifting heavy weights. Aim for more frequent sessions and traditional exercises that target specific muscle groups. This approach has been shown to significantly improve walking speed and quality of life.

ModerateQualifiesLOW confidence
ST interventions that were more frequent (greater days per week), used high movement speeds (power-focused training), included more total ST sessions, and trained single muscle groups were superior to high intensity and functional ST for impacting stroke recovery outcomes.
Kenneth S. Noguchi et al. · British Journal of Sports Medicine · 2024

Why this rating

Based on meta-regression of heterogeneous studies; certainty varies.

Source

Prescribing strength training for stroke recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Kenneth S. Noguchi et al. · British Journal of Sports Medicine · 2024

DOI 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108476

Meta-analysis · 42 studiesCited 11×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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