Editorial: Evaluation of Fitness in Stroke Survivors

But the first order of business is to get them 100% recovered/ Without getting them recovered; YOU ARE A COMPLETE FUCKING FAILURE AT YOUR JOB!

 Editorial: Evaluation of Fitness in Stroke Survivors

Felipe Cunha¹Arthur Sá Ferreira^2,3*Adrian Wayne Midgley⁴

• ¹Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• ²Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, University Center Augusto Motta, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• ³Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• ⁴Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, United Kingdom

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Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, often resulting in impairments in cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular function (1). These limitations contribute to decreased physical activity, increased fatigue, and heightened sedentary behavior, jeopardizing functional independence and increasing the risk of recurrence. This Research Topic showcase recent advances in evaluating key domains of physical fitness in stroke survivors, including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and endurance, neuromotor control, fatigue tolerance, and body composition. Cardiorespiratory fitness assessment remains a cornerstone of post-stroke evaluation. The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is recognized as the gold standard for determining maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), however, its validation, safety, and feasibility in stroke populations remain underexplored. Qu et al. (2) addressed this gap by examining the decline in cardiorespiratory fitness post-stroke using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, opening new perspectives for combining physiological and neuroimaging data in this population. Accurate assessment of neuromuscular function and physical performance is equally critical. Pu et al. (3) developed a nomogram to predict sarcopenia risk in stroke patients, incorporating anthropometric and biochemical markers, while Zhong et al. (4) validated a Chinese version of the performance-oriented mobility assessment, ensuring reliability for use in chronic stroke survivors. Bi et al. (5) further linked serum albumin levels to severe impairment in activities of daily living (ADLs), reinforcing the role of nutritional and metabolic markers in functional prognosis. The interplay between physical health, psychological status, and functional independence also emerged as a key theme. Dan et al. (6) demonstrated how depression mediates the link between stroke and fracture risk, highlighting the need for integrative assessments that include emotional and cognitive domains. Similarly, Lin and Liu (7) proposed a predictive model for ADL dysfunction, offering clinicians a tool to anticipate limitations early in the recovery process. Contributions addressed innovative assessment and rehabilitation strategies. Bian et al. (8) performed a network meta-analysis comparing different physical stimulation therapies, offering evidence to guide upper limb motor rehabilitation strategies. Dai et al. (9) explored the concept of exercise preference in stroke survivors, emphasizing the value of patient-centered approaches when designing fitness evaluations and rehabilitation plans. Lastly, Yin et al. (10) analyzed thrombectomy timing by stroke subtype, and Chunjuan et al. (11) applied machine learning clustering to inflammatory profiles, both enhancing our understanding of physiological factors influencing recovery potential. These studies represent a multidisciplinary effort to improve the precision, relevance, and personalization of fitness assessment in stroke rehabilitation. Continued research must ensure that tools are accessible, scalable, and responsive to the specific needs of stroke survivors across the recovery continuum. We hope this collection inspires further innovation and collaboration in optimizing fitness assessment and rehabilitation strategies in stroke care. Conflict of Interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Keywords: Stroke, Recovery, Rehabilitation, cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiopulmonary 11 exercise test, balance, Body Composition, muscular fitness

Received: 08 Aug 2025; Accepted: 14 Aug 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Cunha, Ferreira and Midgley. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Arthur Sá Ferreira, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, University Center Augusto Motta, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.