OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of early cycling training on balance and motor abilities of stroke patients in their subacute stage. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation. SUBJECTS: Twenty-four patients who had had a first stroke were randomly assigned to a cycling training group (N = 10) or to a control (N = 14) group. INTERVENTION: All subjects received their usual rehabilitation programme; the cycling training group received in addition a daily session of leg cycle ergometer, lasting three weeks. Both groups were followed for six weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Balance was assessed using the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS) and the standing balance test. The motor function of the lower extremity was also assessed by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA). RESULTS: In the within-group comparison, both the exercise group and the control group had improved significantly (p < 0.01) with time with respect to PASS total (exercise group 18.7 +/- 2.8 to 31.1 +/- 2.2, control group 18.1 +/- 3.2 to 26.4 +/- 3.8) and PASS subscores, as well as the FMA score (exercise group 17.2 +/- 7.5 to 29.1 +/- 5.9, control group 16.6 +/- 6.4 to 22.1 +/- 6.8). In addition there was a significant group-time interaction effect, with exercise group patients demonstrating better performance in both the total PASS score and PASS subscores and FMA score relative to the control patients (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that stroke patients in the subacute stage can improve their motor and balance abilities after an early short duration of cycling training.

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