Jornal Internacional de Neurorreabilitação

The Association between Cardiac Autonomic Control System and Motor Performance among Patients Post Stroke: Review of the Literature

Abstract

Raphaely Beer Noa and Katz-leurer Michal

This paper reviews the evidence regarding the autonomic heart rate regulation system function in relation to motor, activity and functional performance among patients post stroke. The target population included patients of any severity, post event. Databases searched for English language studies from 1990 to 2014 were PubMed, Cochrane Library, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and the ClinicalTrials.gov. Search terms included ‘stroke’, ‘hemiplegic’, ‘cerebrovascular accident’ and `autonomic nervous system` or `heart rate variability` or `sympathetic` or `para sympathetic` and ‘ motor` or `activity` or `function’. Articles were identified and included if (1) participants were older than 18 years of age, (2) diagnosis of stroke was made (3) autonomic cardiac heart rate regulation system state and response to activity was present by HRV parameters (4) or an association between HRV parameter and motor or function performance was described. Results: Eight studies were identified as eligible for study criteria; among these, five assessed the possible predictive value of the HRV parameters on function performance two or more month later. Two studies assessed the response of heart rate autonomic control system assessed by HRV values to exercise. One study assessed the possible modification effect of heart autonomic system on the influence of aerobic intervention on walking and functional outcomes among patients at the sub-acute phase post stroke. The main results of the current review suggested a relationship between autonomic HR regulation system and motor and functional abilities among patients post stroke. In addition, it seems that cardiac autonomic system response to activity in these patients. However, the extent of the association and further the benefits of autonomic rehabilitation on motor or functional abilities remain to be evaluated.