BACKGROUND
Strong evidence suggests that a single session of aerobic exercise can alter serum neurotrophin concentrations and induce neural adaptations. This study aimed to analyze the effects of exercise intensity during a single exercise session on serum neurotrophin concentrations in patients after a first ischemic stroke.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Thirty participants (mean age: 65.64±9.34 years) were randomly assigned to either the low-intensity continuous exercise group (n=15) or the moderate-intensity continuous exercise group (n=15). Serum neurotrophin concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cognitive function was assessed with the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III; functional ability with the Rivermead Motor Assessment; depressive symptoms with the Beck Depression Inventory; and exercise intensity with the Graded Cycling Test with the Talk Test.
RESULTS
Descriptively, a single session of aerobic exercise in the moderate-intensity continuous exercise group was associated with a substantial increase in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentration (median change=1.9 ng/mL, 95% bootstrap confidence interval [0.7, 2.8]) and a decrease in serum irisin concentration (median change=-257.4 ng/mL, 95% bootstrap confidence interval [-490.1, -206.8]). Mean-based inferential analyses using 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed no significant Group×Time interactions for serum neurotrophins, except for lactate concentration.
CONCLUSIONS
A single session of aerobic exercise in patients after ischemic stroke was associated with changes in circulating lactate concentrations. Descriptive median-based analyses indicated exercise-related shifts in selected biomarkers, whereas mean-based analyses suggested broadly similar neurotrophin responses across exercise intensities.

Keywords: Stroke Rehabilitation; Exercise; Patients