Aerobic exercise plus targeted speech exercises to improve reading after stroke
Improving Reading Competence in Aphasia with Combined Aerobic Exercise and Phono-Motor Treatment
Short bouts of aerobic exercise done before focused speech-based reading work may help people with post-stroke aphasia read more accurately and regain independence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kessler Foundation, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Hanover, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285474 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would do a supervised bout of aerobic activity (like cycling or walking) immediately before intensive, therapist-guided phonological reading exercises. The team will track your reading skills over time and may measure brain blood flow and oxygenation to see whether exercise boosts the brain's response to therapy. The approach is based on the idea that exercise temporarily increases cerebral blood flow and makes the brain more ready to re-learn sound–letter connections. Sessions are delivered repeatedly over weeks to try to produce lasting improvements in reading.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with chronic post-stroke aphasia who have persistent reading difficulties and are medically cleared to perform moderate aerobic exercise are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who cannot safely perform aerobic exercise due to severe cardiac, respiratory, or mobility limitations, or those without phonological-based reading impairments, may not benefit from this combined approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could produce bigger and more lasting gains in reading ability for people with post-stroke aphasia, improving daily communication and independence.
How similar studies have performed: Early and pilot studies suggest aerobic exercise can increase brain blood flow and may enhance language therapy, but combining exercise specifically with phono-motor reading treatment is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
East Hanover, UNITED STATES
- Kessler Foundation, INC. — East Hanover, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boukrina, Olga — Kessler Foundation, INC.
- Study coordinator: Boukrina, Olga
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.