High-intensity interval training is feasible, credible and clinically effective in the early subacute stroke stage in the low-income country of Benin

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to benefit stroke patients when implemented three months post-stroke. This study examined HIIT's feasibility and clinical effectiveness in the early post-stroke stage in Benin. This was a prospective interventional study comprising an HIIT programme executed on a recumbent bike, three times/week, 20-30 min/session for 6 weeks, added to a conventional physiotherapy. The primary outcomes were feasibility, credibility and expectancy assessed with credibility and expectancy questionnaire. A maximal exercise test, 6-min walking test (6MWT), 10-m walking test (10mWT), Berg balance scale (BBS) and five repetitions sit-to-stand test (5 R-STS) were performed before and after the training programme. Ten outpatients, with a median age P25-P75: 63.556.7-71.2 years; time since stroke: 15.09.7-21.0 days, started and completed all training sessions without serious adverse events. High scores were observed on the Credibility subscale at admission (27.025.7-27.0), which remained so after intervention (26.525.7-27.0). Expectancy subscale scores were high at admission (25.524.0-27.0) and post-training (25.524.5-27.0). Peak workload (