The effect of an exercise and education programme on transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and non-disabling stroke: a randomised controlled pilot trial

For patients diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack (TIA; ‘mini’ stroke), management strategies are predominantly aligned with lifestyle (i.e. smoking cessation advice, diet, alcohol consumption) and pharmacological interventions. Coronary Heart Disease and Cerebrovascular Disease (CVD) share many predisposing, modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, abnormal blood lipids, cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes. Research has shown benefits of exercise programmes and lifestyle education in the cardiac disease population (Jolifee et al., 2010). There is however the need to establish and identify the feasibility and efficacy of exercise based interventions as an early treatment strategy for patients with CVD to see if it is an effective approach towards preventing recurrent vascular events (Lennon & Blake, 2009; Yang et al. 2010) The purpose of the present pilot study is therefore to examine whether an exercise and education intervention with patients post TIA (and non-disabling stroke) reduces risk factors aligned with CVD, increases physical fitness and the awareness of educational and health issues associated with TIA. This study will examine both the short-term and long-term effects of an exercise and education intervention.