Strategy for cardiovascular repair: role of stem cells in 2012 and beyond.

Stem cell based repair of the heart has captured the mind and imagination of cardiovascular specialists and the lay public. Significant progress has been made at the bench defining the mechanisms of action. This work has gone on further to demonstrate that there is an endogenous stem cell based repair process that attempts to repair the myocardium in response to acute ischemic injury. At the same time investigators at both the bench and in clinical populations have investigated the effects of distinct adult stem cell populations in the peri-infarct period as well as patients with chronic heart failure. In this review we attempt to lay a framework to review how cardiovascular regenerative medicine has progressed to date, summarize what we have learned to date, and discuss how the field may evolve in the future.

Geometric changes allow normal ejection fraction despite depressed myocardial shortening in hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVES: This study of hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy 1) assessed myocardial shortening in both the circumferential and long-axis planes, and 2) investigated the relation between geometry and systolic function. BACKGROUND: In hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy, whole-heart studies have suggested normal systolic function on the basis of ejection fraction-systolic stress relations. By contrast, isolated muscle data show that contractility is depressed. It occurred to use that this discrepancy could be related to geometric factors (relative wall thickness). METHODS: We studied 43 patients with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy and normal ejection fraction (mean +/- SD 69 +/- 13%) and 50 clinically normal subjects. By echocardiography, percent myocardial shortening was measured in two orthogonal planes; circumferential shortening was measured at the endocardium and at the midwall, and long-axis shortening was derived from mitral annular motion (apical four-chamber view). Circumferential shortening was related to end-systolic circumferential stress and long-axis shortening to meridional stress. RESULTS: Endocardial circumferential shortening was higher than normal (42 +/- 10% vs. 37 +/- 5%, p < 0.01) and midwall circumferential shortening lower than normal in the left ventricular hypertrophy group (18 +/- 3% vs. 21 +/- 3%, p < 0.01). Differences between endocardial and midwall circumferential shortening are directly related to differences in relative wall thickness. Long-axis shortening was also depressed in the left ventricular hypertrophy group (18 +/- 6% in the left ventricular hypertrophy group, 21 +/- 5% in control subjects, p < 0.05). Midwall circumferential shortening and end-systolic circumferential stress relations in the normal group showed the expected inverse relation; those for approximately 33% of the left ventricular hypertrophy group were > 2 SD of normal relations, indicating depressed myocardial function. There was no significant relation between long-axis shortening and meridional stress, indicating that factors other than afterload influence shortening in this plane. CONCLUSIONS: High relative wall thickness allows preserved ejection fraction and normal circumferential shortening at the endocardium despite depressed myocardial shortening in two orthogonal planes.

Blood flow velocity in the right coronary artery: assessment before and after angioplasty.

OBJECTIVES: This study attempted 1) to assess the utility of rest measurements of intracoronary blood flow velocity for the physiologic assessment of coronary stenoses before and after right coronary artery angioplasty, and 2) to compare the phasic flow pattern in the right coronary artery proper with the phasic flow pattern in its major branches to the left ventricle. BACKGROUND: Previous investigations have demonstrated that a reduction in distal blood flow velocity and a loss of distal diastolic predominant flow are characteristic of physiologically significant stenoses and that these indexes normalize after successful coronary artery dilation. However, these studies were predominantly performed in the left coronary artery. The utility of monitoring rest velocity variables during angioplasty of the right coronary artery has not been studied. METHODS: We studied 20 patients undergoing angioplasty of the right coronary artery with use of a Doppler angioplasty guide wire. RESULTS: Values were expressed as the mean value +/- 1 SD. The rest average peak velocity did not decrease distal to angiographically significant right coronary artery stenoses (23.3 +/- 9.4 cm/s proximal vs. 20.2 +/- 11.1 cm/s distal, p = 0.20). The proximal/distal velocity ratio was 1.4 +/- 0.9 before angioplasty and did not significantly decrease after angioplasty (p = 0.58). This study had a 99.4% power to detect a difference between proximal and distal average peak velocity. There was no relation between percent diameter stenosis and proximal/distal velocity ratios (r = 0.15, p = 0.55). Diastolic predominant flow was not observed in the proximal or distal right coronary artery. However, after angioplasty, diastolic predominant flow was observed in the posterolateral and posterior descending coronary arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Rest phasic Doppler flow velocity indexes are not useful for evaluating stenoses in the right coronary artery proper before or after angioplasty. In contrast to the right coronary artery proper, diastolic predominant flow is observed in the posterior descending and posterolateral coronary arteries. The utility of measuring hyperemic Doppler flow velocity indexes, such as distal coronary flow reserve, for assessing right coronary artery stenoses merits further investigation.

Repetitive bilateral arm training with rhythmic auditory cueing improves motor function in chronic hemiparetic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic upper extremity hemiparesis is a leading cause of functional disability after stroke. We investigated the hypothesis that bilateral arm training with rhythmic auditory cueing (BATRAC) will improve motor function in the hemiparetic arm of stroke patients. METHODS: In this single group pilot study we determined the effects of 6 weeks of BATRAC on 14 patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke (median time after stroke, 30 months) immediately after training and at 2 months after training. Four 5-minute periods per session (3 times per week) of BATRAC were performed with the use of a custom-designed arm training machine. RESULTS: The patients showed significant and potentially durable increases in the following: Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Motor Performance Test of impairment (P<0.0004), Wolf Motor Function Test (performance time measure, P<0.02), and University of Maryland Arm Questionnaire for Stroke measuring daily use of the hemiparetic arm (P<0.002). Isometric strength improved in elbow flexion (P<0.05) and wrist flexion (P<0.02) for the paretic arm and in elbow flexion (P<0.02) and wrist extension (P<0.02) for the nonparetic arm. Active range of motion improved for paretic-side shoulder extension (P<0.01), wrist flexion (P<0.004), and thumb opposition (P<0.002), and passive range of motion improved for paretic wrist flexion (P<0.03). CONCLUSIONS: -Six weeks of BATRAC improves functional motor performance of the paretic upper extremity as well as a few changes in isometric strength and range of motion. These benefits are largely sustained at 8 weeks after training cessation.

Impact of chamber geometry and gender on left ventricular systolic function in patients > 60 years of age with aortic stenosis.

In aortic stenosis, gender and other differences in the adaptive remodeling of the left ventricle have been described, but the influence of left ventricular (LV) geometry on systolic function is not widely appreciated. This study tested the hypothesis that the increased ejection fraction seen in some elderly women with aortic stenosis is due to changes in LV geometry, not increased myocardial mass or enhanced myocardial function. We therefore investigated gender-related differences in LV and myocardial function by analysis of end-systolic circumferential stress versus shortening relations in 65 patients (29 men and 36 women) with aortic stenosis who underwent cardiac catheterization and echocardiography. Despite similar degrees of aortic stenosis, there were significant differences between men and women with regard to LV geometry and function. When compared with men, women had higher peak LV pressures (205 +/- 27 vs 188 +/- 27 mm Hg, p < 0.01), higher ejection fractions (66 +/- 14% vs 57 +/- 18%, p < 0.05), smaller LV end-diastolic dimensions (43 +/- 8 vs 51 +/- 6 mm, p < 0.01) and higher relative wall thickness (0.66 +/- 0.27 vs 0.50 +/- 0.10, p < 0.01). LV mass was similar in the 2 groups. Mean values for stress were lower in women and there was a predominance of women at extremely low levels of stress; this subgroup had very high values for relative wall thickness and endocardial shortening, but overall stress-shortening relations were normal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of aerobic treadmill training on gait velocity, cadence, and gait symmetry in chronic hemiparetic stroke: a preliminary report.

It is widely assumed that only limited improvement in functional mobility is possible beyond the subacute period following ischemic stroke. Contrary to this notion, we studied "neurologically plateaued" stroke patients with chronic hemiparesis to assess whether a "task-oriented" treadmill-training regimen would improve walking speed, cadence, and gait cycle symmetry on a modified "Get-Up and Go" task. Five male patients with a mean age of 60.4 +/- 2.7 years (mean +/- S.D.) status post ischemic stroke (> 6 months prior) participated in this nonrandomized low-intensity treadmill exercise pilot study three times/week for 3 months. All patients had mild to moderate gait asymmetries due to residual hemiparesis. Patients were videotaped before and after 3 months of treadmill aerobic exercise (AEX) while performing a functional task consisting of arising from a chair, walking 3.1 m without an assistive device as fast as safely possible, and returning to sit. Gait events were timed using a 2-D Peak Motus video analysis system. After 3 months AEX training, times for the overall "get-up and return-to-sit" (GURS) task and the "straight-away walk" (SAW) segment decreased from 8.2 +/- 1.4 sec to 6.5 +/- 0.8 sec (mean +/- SEM) (p < 0.05), and from 3.7 +/- 1 sec to 2.8 +/- 0.7 sec (p < 0.05), respectively. These data represent improvements of 21% and 24% for the GURS and SAW segments, respectively. Mean velocity increased from 0.9 +/- 0.2 to 1.2 +/- 0.21 m/sec, a 33% improvement (p < 0.01). Mean cadence (steps/min) increased from 89 +/- 9 to 97 +/- 8, a 9% increase (p < 0.05). Mean stance and swing duration diminished for both paretic (P) and nonparetic (NP) limbs, and the intralimb stance/swing ratio values moved toward normal for both the paretic and nonparetic limbs. However, these latter changes reached significance only for the P limb. Interlimb stance symmetry was unchanged. The more impaired subjects experienced the greatest gains in gait velocity and temporal measures. Collectively, these findings indicate that treadmill exercise improves functional overground mobility in individuals with chronic, stable hemiparesis.

Hemiparetic gait parameters in overground versus treadmill walking.

OBJECTIVE: Hemiparetic gait is characterized by high stride-cycle variability, diminished stance time, single-limb stance time, and stance/swing ratio in the paretic limb. Recent studies suggest treadmill (TM) training may improve the motor control underlying these variables, but supporting evidence is sparse. METHODS: This study compared gait patterns of untrained chronic hemiparetic stroke patients (n = 18; mean, 39.5 months poststroke) during overground (OG) and TM walking at matched velocities. Variables included relative stance time, relative single-limb stance time, stance/swing ratio, peak force, and impulse. Within-subject variability of these measures (CV) was used to assess gait pattern stability. RESULTS: OG and TM cycle durations were similar, but CVs differed (TM < OG, p < 0.05). In the paretic limb, differences were seen in relative stance time, relative single-limb stance time, and stance/swing ratio, respectively (TM > OG, p < 0.05). These variables decreased in the nonparetic limb during TM walking (p < 0.05 for all). Improved interlimb symmetry and coordination were evidenced by decreased between-limb differences and improved relative temporal phasing, respectively, in the TM condition (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results demonstrate that the TM induces an immediate alteration toward a more consistent and symmetric gait pattern. Further investigation is needed to determine whether TM training leads to motor relearning and neuroplasticity in chronic hemiparetic subjects.

Rehabilitation medicine.

This article presents a limited overview of the assistance rehabilitation medicine can offer the elderly surgical patient. Appropriately timed rehabilitation can positively affect surgical outcome of elderly patients by restoring physical abilities and promoting independent function. Specific techniques and programs that follow rehabilitation principles can help offset organ system impairment associated with the aging process itself. Moreover, predictable complications of postoperative bed rest and deconditioning that negatively impact functional mobility and self-care can be prevented or rapidly reversed by adhering to sound rehabilitation precepts. The surgeon should be familiar with the concepts of preserving and restoring function, the members of the rehabilitation team, and the array of programs and settings available for the physically impaired and disabled elderly patient.

Effects of pollution on swallowing: how little we know.

Swallowing is an essential function of the upper alimentary tract. It is highly complex, requiring precise coordination of numerous nerves and muscles of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. Swallowing is integrated with other physiologic functions, including mastication and respiration. Impairments of swallowing may result from many different structural or physiologic disorders. Little is currently known about the direct effects of pollution on swallowing. Structures critical to swallowing, however, are vulnerable to damage by environmental hazards such as exposure to ionizing radiation or intake of toxins by ingestion or inhalation. The relationship of swallowing to environmental lung disease is an area of particular interest because impaired swallowing may result in aspiration of food particles into the lung, and because pollutants may hamper airway defense mechanisms. In this article, we discuss the possible impact of selected environmental agents on swallowing and suggest future directions for research.

The use of scintigraphy in the management of patients with pulmonary aspiration.

Pulmonary aspiration was assessed using a scintigraphic swallowing procedure in 14 dysphagics in whom penetration of the larynx had been previously diagnosed. No patient had recent evidence of aspiration pneumonia. Imaging was performed during and following ingestion of a cupful of thin liquid admixed with between 1-2 mCi of Tc-99m sulfur colloid. Follow-up scans were obtained several hours later as needed to assess airway clearance. Five of the fourteen (36%) showed penetration distal to the trachea. Seven (50%) were indeterminate for aspiration, as isotope localized to the neck could not be clearly designated as being in either airway or foodway. Two subjects had negative studies. Of patients with subtracheal penetration, (1) fractions of the ingested material which were aspirated ranged from < 1%-25%, and (2) elimination from airways was complete or near-complete by 3 hours. The presence of an immediate or delayed cough was noted but did not correlate with subtracheal aspiration. Based on the results of scintigraphy, 8 of 9 patients on some form of liquid restriction at the time of testing were allowed to ease restrictions. Five patients without prior liquid restriction were allowed to continue to drink. We propose that scintigraphy provides important data on airway penetration and clearance that is useful in the dietary management of dysphagic patients.

Scintigraphic detection of salivary aspiration: description of a new diagnostic technique and case reports.

Pneumonia is the feared consequence of persistent aspiration of saliva. Although some persons with impaired protection of the laryngeal airway are thought to be at risk, it is not known with certainty which factors are important. Some patients receive tracheostomies to enhance airway safety, often without clear evidence of aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions. A simple, readily available technique is described by which oral secretions are scintigraphically labeled with technetium-99m sulfur colloid via slow intraoral infusion. Subsequent sequential chest imaging with a gamma camera allows detection and tracking of the aspirated material. Three persons are described in whom this technique was used. In one, the scintigraphic analysis was instrumental in implicating infected saliva as the likely source of recurrent pulmonary infections. Although the method is useful in detecting aspiration of saliva in high risk persons, more study is needed to equate the degree of aspiration visualized with the risk of pulmonary disease.

Quantitative analysis of coronary arteriograms by microprocessor cinevideodensitometry.

A rapid microprocessor technique for measuring the cross-sectional area, diameter, and relative percentage stenosis of coronary atherosclerotic lesions by cinevideodensitometric analysis was developed and validated. Video images of projected 35-mm coronary arteriographic cine frames were analyzed from cinevideodensitometric profile curves recorded for the catheter shaft, normal artery, and stenotic segment. In radiographic phantom studies of calibrated, contrast-filled, plexiglass cylinders, cinevideodensitometric measurements correlated linearly with percentage relative stenosis (r = 0.98; SEE = 4.1%), diameter (r = 0.99; SEE = 0.12 mm), and cross-sectional area (r = 0.99; SEE = 0.32 mm2). In postmortem studies of two patients dying after coronary arteriography, cross-sectional areas of arterial segments measured by cinevideodensitometry correlated well (r = 0.99; SEE = 0.71 mm) with areas of acrylic resin casts of the coronary arteries. Intraobserver variability (r = 0.99; SEE = 2.6%) and interobserver variability (r = 0.96; SEE = 5.3%) of cinevideodensitometric measurements of coronary arteriograms were low. Additionally, percentage relative stenosis measured in the right anterior oblique projection correlated well with measurements in the left anterior oblique projection (r = 0.98; SEE = 0.11 mm2) of patients with eccentric stenotic lesions. Lastly, cinevideodensitometric measurements were significantly (p less than 0.05) more reproducible than caliper measurements. This inexpensive dedicated microprocessor system provides rapid cinevideodensitometric measurements of coronary arterial dimensions, without requiring manual tracing of arterial segments or the major expense of a main-frame computer system.

Scintigraphy for the detection and quantification of subglottic aspiration: preliminary observations.

Eleven patients with previously documented aspiration underwent a radioisotopic swallowing study to detect and quantify airway penetration. In those subjects able to complete a rapid-acquisition phase during swallowing, no laryngotracheal penetration was seen despite previous evidence of aspiration. However, sequential static pulmonary imaging showed significant aspiration in three individuals. Attempts were made to measure the percentage of ingested material aspirated and the clearance rate from the airways. Eight patients (73%) failed to show definite evidence of aspiration on scintigrams. It is hypothesized that the lack of scintigraphic detection in previously proven aspirators was due either to interval improvement of the dysphagia or to difficult-to-detect laryngotracheal aspiration. Isotopic imaging during swallowing appears to have little utility; however, after ingestion, the technique can demonstrate more distal penetration not detected on videofluoroscopy. More studies are suggested to better define the sensitivity and specificity of scintigraphy in aspiration detection and to determine whether these techniques have prognostic value that could alter patient management.

"Task-oriented" exercise improves hamstring strength and spastic reflexes in chronic stroke patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite the belief that after cerebral infarction only limited functional gains are possible beyond the subacute period, we tested the hypothesis that a 12-week program of "task-oriented" treadmill exercise would increase muscle strength and decrease spastic reflexes in chronic hemiparetic patients. METHODS: Fourteen subjects, aged 66+/-3 (mean+/-SEM) years, with residual gait deviations due to remote stroke (>6 months), underwent repeated measures of reflexive and volitional (concentric and eccentric) torque with use of isokinetic dynamometry on the hamstring musculature bilaterally. Torque output was measured at 4 angular velocities (30(o), 60(o), 90(o), and 120(o)/s). RESULTS: After 3 months of 3 times/wk low-intensity aerobic exercise, there were significant main effects (2 legs [P<0.01]x2 times [P<0. 01]x4 angular velocities [P<0.05]) for concentric torque production. Torque/time production in the concentric mode also improved significantly in the paretic (50%, P<0.01) and nonparetic hamstrings (31%, P<0.01). Eccentric torque/time production increased by 21% (P<0.01) and 22% (P<0.01) in the paretic and nonparetic hamstrings, respectively. Passive (reflexive) torque/time generation in the paretic hamstrings decreased by 11% (P<0.027). Reflexive torque/time was unchanged in the nonparetic hamstrings (P=0.45). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence that progressive treadmill aerobic exercise training improves volitional torque and torque/time generation and reduces reflexive torque/time production in the hemiparetic limb. Strength changes associated with improved functional mobility in chronic hemiparetic stroke survivors after treadmill training will be reported in future articles.

Treadmill training improves fitness reserve in chronic stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothesis that treadmill training will improve peak fitness, while lowering the energy cost of hemiparetic gait in chronic stroke patients. DESIGN: Noncontrolled exercise intervention study with repeated-measures analysis. SETTING: Hospital-based senior exercise research center. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three patients (mean age +/- standard deviation [SD] 67 +/- 8 yr) with chronic hemiparetic gait after remote (>6 mo) ischemic stroke. INTERVENTION: Three 40-minute sessions of treadmill exercise weekly for 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peak exercise capacity (VO2peak) and rate of oxygen consumption during submaximal effort treadmill walking (economy of gait) by open circuit spirometry and ambulatory workload capacity before and after 3 and 6 months of training. RESULTS: Patients who completed 3 months of training (n = 21) increased their VO2peak +/- SD from 15.4 +/- 2.9 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1) to 17.0 +/- 4.4 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1) (p <.02) and lowered their oxygen demands of submaximal effort ambulation from 9.3 +/- 2 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1) to 7.9 +/- 1.5 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1) (p =.002), which enabled them to perform the same constant-load treadmill task using 20% less of their peak exercise capacity (62.3% +/- 17.2% vs 49.9% +/- 19.3%, p <.002). Gains in VO2peak and economy of gait plateaued by 3 months, while peak ambulatory workload capacity progressively increased by 39% (p <.001) over 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Treadmill training improves physiologic fitness reserve in chronic stroke patients by increasing VO2peak while lowering the energy cost of hemiparetic gait, and increases peak ambulatory workload capacity. These improvements may enhance functional mobility in chronic stroke patients.

Cardiovascular fitness after stroke: Role of muscle mass and gait deficit severity.

Functional disability after hemiparetic stroke may be compounded by physical deconditioning and muscular wasting, factors related to disuse and advancing age. However, the role of body composition, severity, and chronicity of gait deficits as determinants of exercise fitness after stroke is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether oxygen consumption during peak exercise (VO2 peak) is associated with body composition, the severity, or duration of gait deficits in chronic (>6 months) hemiparetic stroke patients. Twenty-six patients (22 men, 4 women), aged 66 ± 9 years (mean ± standard deviation [SD]), completed a progressive graded treadmill test until fatigue to measure VO2 peak (1.3 ± 0.4 L/minute). Timed 30-foot walks were used to determine self-selected floor walking velocity (0.63 ± 0.31 m/s), an index of gait deficit severity. Percent body fat (30.4% ± 10.6%), total lean mass (52.0 ± 9.3 kg), lean mass of the paretic and nonaffected legs (17.2 ± 3.7 kg), and lean mass of the paretic and nonaffected thighs (13.2 ± 2.7 kg) were determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Total lean mass (r = 0.60), lean mass of both legs (r = 0.58), paretic leg lean mass (r = 0.55), lean mass of both thighs (r = 0.64), and self-selected floor walking velocity (r = 0.53, all P < .01) correlated with VO2 peak. In contrast, percent body fat and latency since index stroke were unrelated to VO2 peak. In a stepwise regression analysis, lean mass of both thighs (r = 0.64, P < .001) and self-selected walking velocity (cumulative r = 0.78, P < .001) were independent predictors of VO2 peak and explained 61% of the variance. These results suggest that hemiparetic stroke patients are profoundly deconditioned, regardless of the latency since stroke, and that lower lean thigh mass and greater gait deficit severity predict even poorer peak exercise capacity.

Treadmill aerobic exercise training reduces the energy expenditure and cardiovascular demands of hemiparetic gait in chronic stroke patients. A preliminary report.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Elevated energy costs of hemiparetic gait contribute to functional disability after stroke, particularly in physically deconditioned older patients. We investigated the effects of 6 months of treadmill aerobic exercise training on the energy expenditure and cardiovascular demands of submaximal effort ambulation in stroke patients with chronic hemiparetic gait. METHODS: Nine older stroke patients with chronic hemiparetic gait were enrolled in a 6-month program of low-intensity aerobic exercise using a graded treadmill. Repeated measures of energy expenditure based on steady state oxygen consumption during a standardized 1-mph submaximal effort treadmill walking task were performed before and after training. RESULTS: Six months of exercise training produced significant reductions in energy expenditure (n = 9; 3.40 +/- 0.27 versus 2.72 +/- 0.25 kcal/min [mean +/- SEM]; P < .005) during a given submaximal effort treadmill walking task. Repeated measures analysis in the subset of patients (n = 8) tested at baseline and after 3 and 6 months revealed that reductions in energy expenditure were progressive (F = 11.1; P < .02) and that exercise-mediated declines in both oxygen consumption (F = 9.7; P < .02) and respiratory exchange ratio (F = 13.4; P < .01) occurred in a strong linear pattern. These stroke patients could perform the same standardized submaximal exercise task at progressively lower heart rates after 3 months (96 +/- 4 versus 87 +/- 4 beats per minute) and 6 months of training (82 +/- 4 beats per minute; F = 35.4; P < .002). CONCLUSIONS: Six months of low-intensity treadmill endurance training produces substantial and progressive reductions in the energy expenditure and cardiovascular demands of walking in older patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke. This suggests that task-oriented aerobic exercise may improve functional mobility and the cardiovascular fitness profile in this population.

Low-velocity graded treadmill stress testing in hemiparetic stroke patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Coronary artery disease is prevalent in stroke patients and is an important factor affecting rehabilitation and health outcomes. However, the presence of neurological deficits in gait and balance has discouraged systematic application of exercise testing and prescription in the stroke population. We evaluated a novel graded treadmill stress test in paretic stroke patients and tested floor walking as a predictor of adequate neurological function to perform the treadmill test. METHODS: Patients (n = 31) with residual paretic gait deficits after ischemic stroke were evaluated with graded treadmill at gait velocities individualized to functional mobility observed during an initial zero-incline treadmill tolerance test. RESULTS: Most patients (30/31) tolerated testing, achieving mean heart rates of 129 +/- 14 beats per minute (mean +/- SD), representing 84 +/- 10% of maximal age-predicted heart rate. Evidence for asymptomatic myocardial ischemia was found in 29% of those without known coronary artery disease. Exercise termination was more often due to generalized fatigue than cardiopulmonary intolerance (23/31 versus 4/31; P < .0001) or hemiparetic leg fatigue (1/31; P < .0001). Floor walking across a wide range of velocities (0.25 to 2.5 mph) demonstrated a strong linear relation with treadmill velocities (n = 24; r = 80; P < .0001); all patients floor walking at > or = 0.5 mph had adequate neuromotor function to perform the exercise test. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that graded treadmill exercise testing, with proper safety precautions, can be used to assess cardiopulmonary function in paretic stroke patients. A simple floor-walking test predicts adequate neurological function to perform the exercise test. Exercise capacity is most limited by generalized fatigue and not by the paretic limb, supporting a rationale for endurance training in this population.