BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that aerobic exercise with cycle ergometer improves motor control. PURPOSE: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis are to evaluate evidence about the effects of aerobic exercise with cycle ergometer on the balance of post-stroke patients, evaluated by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and functional capacity, evaluated by the maximal oxygen intake and six-minute walk test (6MWT). METHODS: The research was conducted on Medline, LILACS, Cochrane Library, Embase, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and Google Scholar until March 2018 (CRD42015020146). Two independent reviewers performed the article selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment. The main outcome was balance assessed by the Berg scale and the secondary outcome was functional capacity of the maximal oxygen intake and the 6MWT. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects method, and mean pre-post intervention difference with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI). RESULTS: The review included 5 papers and a total of 258 patients. It was observed that the cycle ergometer did not improve balance in this population (0.03 (-0.57 to 0.64) p = 0.91) or functional capacity in maximal oxygen intake (2.40 (-0.24 to 5.04) p = 0.07) and 6MWT (-40.49 (-131.70 to 50.72) p = 0.38). CONCLUSIONS: The cycle ergometer aerobic exercise did not seem to improve balance or functional capacity in post-stroke patients.

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