NCT07281313NARecruiting

Aphasia Physical EXercise Study: Randomized Trial

University of California, Berkeley

Start Date

12/1/2025

Completion Date

3/1/2030

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effects of a high-intensity exercise program on recovery in individuals with post-stroke aphasia. The high-intensity exercise program has been specifically designed for individuals with post-stroke aphasia and includes an interval training full-body workout, which can increase cardiovascular fitness, improve muscle strength and motor performance, and maximize cognitive and language gains. The main question this study aims to answer is: • Does participation in a high-intensity exercise program lead to changes in physical health, language, cognitive, motor recovery, psychological and/or psychosocial domains? Participants will be randomly assigned to either a high-intensity exercise program (target intervention) or a low-intensity exercise program (control intervention) delivered over 12-weeks in a group setting. Outcome measures will be collected once immediately after the intervention period and once during the following 12-week maintenance period to capture short- and long-term effects of the exercise program.

Eligibility Criteria

Age Range: 18 years to 80 years

Inclusion Criteria: * Aphasia following ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke * Aphasia as determined by a standardized language test (Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia Quotient \< 93.8 at study intake) * At least 6 months from the last stroke * Proficient in English before the stroke * At least 8 years of education * Between the ages of 18 and 80 * Independent with ambulation without a device (single-point cane accepted) * Medically stable with no contraindications to participate in regular physical exercise as determined by the patients' own primary care provider or other treating provider. Exclusion Criteria: * Prior history of dementia, neurologic illness (other than stroke), or recent (last 3 years) substance abuse * Significant visual or hearing disabilities (e.g., neglect, uncorrected visual or hearing loss) that interfere with testing * Self-report uncontrolled cardiorespiratory and/or metabolic disorders incompatible with exercise

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

High-intensity physical exercise

BEHAVIORAL

Low-intensity physical exercise

Interested in This Trial?

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Conditions

Aphasia, AcquiredAphasiaAphasia, FluentAphasia, Non-fluentAphasia Following Cerebral InfarctionAphasia Following Nontraumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Locations

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California 94720

United States

California State University, East Bay

Hayward, California 94542

United States

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California 94118

United States

University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, California 94143

United States