Positive Effects of Post-ischemic Forced Treadmill Training on Sensorimotor and Learning Outcomes Following Transient Global Cerebral Ischemia

ABSTRACT             Background and objectives: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term acquired disability. It is of great importance to seek ways for improving motor, sensory, and cognitive function after stroke and brain injury. In this regard, therapeutic exercise is the most commonly used method of rehabilitation that can significantly reduce the severity of functional damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of eight weeks of forced treadmill training on cognitive and motor functions in ischemic rats.             Methods: Fourteen adult male Wistar rats were divided into an exercise group and a control group (no exercise). Occlusion of both common carotid arteries was made to induce cerebral ischemia. Twenty-four hours after the induction of ischemia, the subjects in the exercise group were subjected to treadmill running, five days a week for eight weeks. The skilled ladder rung walking task was used to evaluate motor function before and after the stroke.             Results: The number of errors was decreasing in both groups, but significant differences were observed in the motor function between the two groups in the third, fifth, and eighth week.             Conclusion: Our results suggest that post-ischemic exercise might modulate ischemia-induced hippocampal injury and ameliorate the subsequent memory and motor impairment.             Keywords:  Stroke, Cerebral Ischemia, Exercise, Treadmill training, sensorimotor.