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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
Are Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs Effective in Improving Aerobic Capacity for People With Transient Ischemic Attack
Lucy Walton1, Elisabeth Preston2, Juliana De Mendonca2
1Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in improving aerobic capacity for people with stroke or TIA.
Design:
This is a rapid review with meta-analysis.
Resultsl:
Four databases were searched from February 2015 to March 2025. Nine studies ( N = 490 participants) of low-moderate quality were included (2 randomized controlled trials, 2 quasi-experimental trials, 5 pre-post studies), three of which were pooled for meta-analysis. Findings suggest cardiac rehabilitation improves aerobic capacity (28 m, 95% confidence interval = 16 m to 39 m, P ≤ 0.00001) for people with TIA or stroke, with promising improvements also found for systolic blood pressure (95% confidence interval = -18 mmHg to -5.3 mmHg, P = 0.0003), self-reported diet (95% confidence interval = 2.4 to 4.7, P ≤ 0.00001), and self-reported physical activity (95% confidence interval = 1533 METmin/week to 5156 METmin/week, P = 0.0003). No significant relationships were identified between program frequency, intensity, time, and type principles and aerobic capacity outcomes.
Conclusions:
Cardiac rehabilitation may be effective in improving aerobic capacity post-TIA or stroke, however current evidence is limited and of low certainty. Further high-quality research on program effectiveness, and the influence of frequency, intensity, time, and type principles is needed to support evidence-based decisions making by clinicians, researchers, and policy-makers.
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