SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Neurol.
Sec. Neurorehabilitation
The Safety and Efficacy of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) in Post-Stroke Patients with Moderate Functional Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Provisionally accepted
- 1Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
- 2Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
- 3Rehabilitation Medicine Center /Tuina Department, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese, Wuhan, China
- 4Hubei Shizhen Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- 5Hubei KeyLaboratory of Theory and Application Research of Liveand Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
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Objective This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus conventional rehabilitation for improving lower limb function in post-stroke patients. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus from inception to January 2025. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults in post-stroke rehabilitation published in English were included, while grey literature was excluded. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The primary outcomes were 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Self-Selected Speed (SSS) and the Fastest Speed (FS). The secondary outcomes were peak oxygen uptake (Peak VO2) and SF-36 scores. The experimental group received high-intensity interval training (which involved robotic-assisted, cycling-based, or treadmill protocols targeting ≥60% of Peak VO₂), and the control group received standard care or regular exercise. Results This meta-analysis included 10 studies. The results showed that high-intensity interval training has demonstrated significant improvements in walking ability and cardiopulmonary function compared with controls. High-intensity interval training had positive effects on 6MWT (SMD = 0.25, 95% CI [-0.01, 0.52]), SSS (SMD = 0.65, 95% CI [0.26, 1.03]), FS (SMD = 0.49, 95% CI [0.10, 0.88]), SF-36 scores (SMD = 0.67, 95% CI [0.04, 1.21]) and Peak VO₂ (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI [0.04, 0.54]) in stroke patients. According to the analysis, HIIT participants demonstrated better rehabilitation outcomes in walking capacity, cardiorespiratory function and quality of life. Conclusions HIIT may be a safe and effective therapy for specific post-stroke patients, but more high-quality research is needed to confirm its efficacy and optimize protocols.
Keywords: Post-strokemotor dysfunction, 6MWT, high-intensity intervaltraining, Rehabilitation, Meta-analysis
Received: 11 Sep 2025; Accepted: 04 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Wu, Yang, Zhu, Xiao and Huang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Yao Xiao, xiaoyao@hbhtcm.com
Hai Huang, huanghai@hbhtcm.com
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.