Aerobic Exercise as a Rehabilitative Strategy Following Inschemic Stroke in Aged C57BL/6 Mice
Submission Type
Event
Expected Graduation Date
2015
Location
Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-18-2015 9:00 AM
End Date
4-18-2015 10:00 AM
Disciplines
Psychology
Abstract
Current stroke rehabilitative strategies fail to yield complete recovery in patients. Further, these strategies require intensive training that is not often feasible for patients. Because aerobic exercise is neuroprotective, it has been explored as a means to promote better functional outcome post-stroke. Exercise is also an appealing rehabilitative strategy because it requires less intensity and clinician oversight than traditional therapy. This study investigated the efficacy of post-stroke exercise in an aged-mouse model of stroke. Mice were trained on a skilled reaching task before receiving focal ischemic stroke affecting their dominant limb. Following stroke, the mice were subdivided into four different groups for rehabilitative training including traditional focused rehabilitation of the impaired limb, aerobic exercise, a combination of focused rehabilitation and exercise, and a control group. Results suggest that exercise is as beneficial as traditional rehabilitative training for functional outcome, indicating that exercise may be a beneficial rehabilitative strategy in humans.
Aerobic Exercise as a Rehabilitative Strategy Following Inschemic Stroke in Aged C57BL/6 Mice
Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Current stroke rehabilitative strategies fail to yield complete recovery in patients. Further, these strategies require intensive training that is not often feasible for patients. Because aerobic exercise is neuroprotective, it has been explored as a means to promote better functional outcome post-stroke. Exercise is also an appealing rehabilitative strategy because it requires less intensity and clinician oversight than traditional therapy. This study investigated the efficacy of post-stroke exercise in an aged-mouse model of stroke. Mice were trained on a skilled reaching task before receiving focal ischemic stroke affecting their dominant limb. Following stroke, the mice were subdivided into four different groups for rehabilitative training including traditional focused rehabilitation of the impaired limb, aerobic exercise, a combination of focused rehabilitation and exercise, and a control group. Results suggest that exercise is as beneficial as traditional rehabilitative training for functional outcome, indicating that exercise may be a beneficial rehabilitative strategy in humans.