High-intensity exercise to improve recovery after post-stroke aphasia

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Adults with chronic aphasia after ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke are randomly assigned to either a supervised high-intensity or a low-intensity group exercise program delivered over 12 weeks. The high-intensity program uses interval full-body workouts designed to boost cardiovascular fitness, strength, motor performance, and potential cognitive and language gains. Outcomes include measures of physical health, language function, cognition, motor recovery, and psychological or social domains collected immediately after the intervention and again at a 12-week follow-up. Participants must be English-proficient, ambulatory (single-point cane allowed), medically stable, and at least six months post-stroke.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Aphasia following ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
* Aphasia as determined by a standardized language test (Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia Quotient \< 93.8 at study intake)
* At least 6 months from the last stroke
* Proficient in English before the stroke
* At least 8 years of education
* Between the ages of 18 and 80
* Independent with ambulation without a device (single-point cane accepted)
* Medically stable with no contraindications to participate in regular physical exercise as determined by the patients' own primary care provider or other treating provider.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior history of dementia, neurologic illness (other than stroke), or recent (last 3 years) substance abuse
* Significant visual or hearing disabilities (e.g., neglect, uncorrected visual or hearing loss) that interfere with testing
* Self-report uncontrolled cardiorespiratory and/or metabolic disorders incompatible with exercise

Where it's running

• University of California, Berkeley
  Berkeley, California, United States Recruiting
• California State University, East Bay
  Hayward, California, United States Recruiting
• University of San Francisco
  San Francisco, California, United States Recruiting
• University of California, San Francisco
  San Francisco, California, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Maria Ivanova, PhD — University of California, Berkeley
• Study coordinator: Maria Ivanova, PhD
• Email: ivanova@berkeley.edu
• Phone: 650-390-7572

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.