This study explores how stroke survivors respond to high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which helps increase walking speed. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or reduced, causing brain cells to die. The study focuses on Veterans with chronic subcortical stroke, meaning they had a stroke over six months ago, affecting the lower parts of their brain. Researchers will monitor blood lactate (a substance in the blood that increases with exercise) and GABA, a brain chemical that helps with nerve cell communication, to see if they can predict who will benefit from HIIT. They will also measure cerebral blood flow (CBF), which is the blood flow in the brain, to gauge the brain's response. The study lasts 12 weeks with 36 HIIT sessions. Participants' walking speed, balance, and leg strength will be checked before and after the study. To join, Veterans must have had a stroke causing slow walking, but they can't participate if they have certain medical conditions or issues with MRI machines.
- 36-session HIIT over 12 weeks.
- Measures include walking speed, balance, and leg strength.
- Participants must be stroke-affected Veterans with slow walking speed.