Potential Benefits of Boxing Training on Attenuating Arterial Stiffness, Heart Rate Variability and Motor Functioning in Chronic Ischemic Stroke Survivors

Le résumé fourni par la source

Aerobic exercise has demonstrated benefits in improving arterial stiffness, cardiovascular autonomic function, and motor performance in individuals with stroke. While exergames such as the Wii boxing game have shown potential to enhance cardiovascular fitness, their accessibility may be limited due to technological or equipment constraints. As an alternative, a home-based boxing program may serve as a practical intervention to improve atherosclerosis-related outcomes and autonomic nervous system function in stroke survivors. This study aimed to investigate the effects of moderate-intensity boxing training on arterial stiffness, arterial obstruction, autonomic function, and motor impairments in individuals with chronic ischemic stroke. This study employed a single-cohort feasibility design and was conducted in a community-based setting in Mueang District, Phitsanulok, Thailand. It involved 12 stroke survivors with a mean post-stroke duration of 25.4 months. Participants engaged in 24 one-hour boxing sessions over an 8-week period. Outcome measures included the Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI), Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Significant improvements were observed in CAVI values on both sides, with reductions from 9.55 to 8.45 (right) and from 9.30 to 8.60 (left) (p = 0.001). HRV analysis showed enhanced autonomic function, with increases in LFnu from 32.75 to 41.96 and LF/HF ratio from 0.51 to 0.99 (p = 0.017). Motor performance, as measured by the FMA, significantly improved from 80 to 96 (p = 0.001), while ABI values remained unchanged. These findings suggest that an accessible, moderate-intensity boxing program may be an effective strategy for supporting vascular health, autonomic regulation, and motor recovery in chronic stroke rehabilitation.

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