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The cardiac autonomic nervous system state and response to reflective, motor and cognitive stimuli among individuals post stroke 17-1

The cardiac autonomic nervous system state and response to reflective, motor and cognitive

stimuli among individuals post stroke: A feasibility study
Noa Raphaely Beer, Michal Katz Leurer

 

 

Abstract:  
Autonomic instability is a common phenomenon in individuals post stroke, manifested in hyper-stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Heart rate variability (HRV) refers to beat-to-beat alterations in heart rate, as measured by periodic variation in the R–R interval. This measure provides a non-invasive method for investigating the function of the heart's autonomic control system. The purpose of this case study is to describe the response of the cardiac autonomic control system to different physical and cognitive stimuli used routinely in rehabilitation, at three different points in time: shortly after the occurrence of stroke, one month- and three months post stroke.

 

Study population:

Four post ischemic stroke individuals with reserved cognitive capacity and without severe visual or hearing impairment and four age-matched healthy controls.

 

The research process:

Post-stroke study participants were examined and cardiac autonomic response was evaluated at three different points in time: up to two weeks after the ischemic event, one month, and three months post stroke. The cardiac autonomic response of control-group participants was evaluated once. In each evaluation session, HRV data were recorded for a period of 24 hours. At the beginning of each session, participants performed various tasks: a grip test, a breath test, pedaling, a cognitive test, and a combined test that involved pedaling and a cognitive task.

 

Results:

Heart rate values were similar in both groups at rest and throughout the tasks. HRV values were lower among individuals post stroke, both at rest and during research-related tasks.
Discussion: This case study's results highlight the feasibility of implementing this protocol among individuals post stroke. The cardiac autonomic nervous system reacts differently to various stimuli in individuals post stroke, as compared to its reaction in age-matched healthy controls.

 
Key Words:

stroke, autonomic cardiac nervous system, heart rate variability.

 

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