Effects of an exercise-based rehabilitation program in patients with minor ischemic non-disabling stroke or transient ischemic attack

Background: Ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) present global health challenges. While physical activity is strongly recommended for secondary prevention of these clinical conditions, there's a massive gap between guidelines and the real world. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness, safety, and feasibility of an exercise-based rehabilitation (EBR) program for patients with minor ischemic non-disabling stroke (MINDS) or TIA. Methods: Consecutive patients from the Neurology Unit of Mirano - Venice, Italy, diagnosed with MINDS or TIA, underwent a structured EBR program. The program comprised 6 weeks of supervised training in a hospital gym and 12 months of territorial gym training. Safety, feasibility, and effectiveness were evaluated through adverse events, drop-out rates, and improvements in body composition, muscular strength, and cardiopulmonary fitness. Results: The sample comprised 32 patients (mean age 66 years, 81,3% male). No adverse events were reported. During the in-hospital phase of the program, there were no dropouts, while 28% of patients ceased training during the territorial phase. After the in-hospital phase, there were significant improvements in body composition, muscular strength, and cardiopulmonary parameters. These benefits persisted at the 12-month territorial gym phase of the EBR program only for patients who continued training. Conclusions: The structured EBR program demonstrated safety, feasibility, and effectiveness in improving health parameters for MINDS or TIA patients. Such interventions promise to enhance secondary prevention and overall health outcomes in this patient group.