Affiliations: [a] Department of Exercise and Health Science, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan
| [b] Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| [c] Department of Rehabilitation, Yuanshan and Suao Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Suao Township, Yilan County, Taiwan
| [d] Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Yi-Hung Liao, P.T., Ph.D., Department of Exercise and Health Science, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, No.365, Ming-Te Road, Peitou District, Taipei City 11219, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 2 28227101/Ext. 7707; Fax: +886 2 2821 2124; E-mail:[email protected].
Note: [1] C.-N. Chen and C.-Y. Hu contributed equally to this work.
Abstract: PURPOSE:This study investigates the effects of an 8-weeks rehabilitation exercise plus soymilk ingestion immediately after exercise on functional outcomes in chronic stroke patients. METHODS:Twenty-two stroke patients (age: 57–84 yrs; time since stroke onset: 2–19 yrs) participated and completed the study. A randomized, placebo-controlled and double-blind design was used. Participants were randomly allocated to either soymilk (SMS; n = 11) or placebo (PLA; n = 11) group and received identical 8-weeks rehabilitation intervention (3 sessions/week; 120 min/session) with corresponding treatment beverages. The physical and functional outcomes were evaluated before, during, and after the intervention. RESULTS:The 8-weeks rehabilitation program enhanced functional outcomes of participants. The immediate soymilk ingestion after exercise additionally improved hand grip strength (p = 0.021), 8-feet walking speed (p = 0.019), walking performance per unit lean mass (p = 0.024), and 6-minute walk performance (6MWT, p = 0.016) compared with PLA after the intervention. However, the improvements in the total score for short physical performance battery (SPPB) and lean mass did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION:Compared with rehabilitation alone, the 8-week rehabilitation program combined with immediate soymilk ingestion further improved walking speed, exercise endurance, grip strength, and muscle functionality in chronic stroke patients.
