The present study has some limitations. First, because it was a pilot study using a small sample, the results should be considered preliminary and viewed with caution, although resistance exercise induced a significant increase in venous flow velocity and volume compared with baseline. Second, resistance exercise was set at only 30% MVC of the handgrip. Ishii et al.  suggested the possibility that one-armed passive arm motion causes a change in venous blood oxygenation and volume in non-contracting arm muscles. Therefore, the use of handgrip exercise without resistance should be established in a future study. Third, we measured the hemodynamics of the venous circulation in supine patients with stroke. It is generally recommended, however, that stroke patients be mobilized to an active sitting or standing position as soon after stroke as possible. Stern et al.  reported that the venous volume of upper-extremity edema differs depending on the patient’s posture. Therefore, venous hemodynamics must be measured in stroke patients not only in the supine position but also when sitting.