Effects of exercise combined with cognitive dual-task training on cognitive function and sustained effects in stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

We investigated the effect of exercise combined with cognitive dual-task training on the improvement of cognitive function in stroke patients by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of current relevant studies. Four electronic databases, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase, were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of exercise combined with cognitive dual-task training on cognitive function in patients with stroke that were publicly available from the starting year of the databases to 10 July 2024. A total of 14 RCTs were included. Statistical results showed that exercise combined with cognitive dual-task training had a small effect size improvement in cognitive function for stroke patients (SMD = 0.41, 95% CI: [0.26, 0.57], p = 0.00). Moreover, persistent effects on cognitive functioning were observed after the end of the intervention (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI: [0.05, 0.43], p = 0.01). Subgroup analyses revealed that working memory, cognitive flexibility, total execution function, and total cognitive function had significant improvements in the cognitive function dimension group. Subgroup analyses of different exercise modalities, intervention periods, and different forms of control revealed significant differences within each subgroup. Exercise combined with cognitive dual-task training significantly improves cognitive function in stroke patients with favorable sustained effects. Exercise combined with cognitive dual-task training improves cognitive function in stroke patients with good sustained effects.Exercise combined with cognitive dual-task training was more significant if the intervention lasted longer than four weeks and the frequency of the intervention was three times per week.Rehabilitation professionals may consider exercise combined with cognitive dual-task training as a good choice of modality to improve cognitive functioning in stroke patients, which has good sustained results. Exercise combined with cognitive dual-task training improves cognitive function in stroke patients with good sustained effects. Exercise combined with cognitive dual-task training was more significant if the intervention lasted longer than four weeks and the frequency of the intervention was three times per week. Rehabilitation professionals may consider exercise combined with cognitive dual-task training as a good choice of modality to improve cognitive functioning in stroke patients, which has good sustained results.