The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Rhodiola sachalinensis (RS) administration and regular swim exercise on infarct volume and motor functions in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats. Brain ischemic condition was induced by MCAO. Forty rats were divided into MCAO and Sham groups based on pre-treatments, and each group was further divided into four subgroups; the MCAO group as regular swim exercise and RS administration(MHE), RS administration (MH), regular swim exercise (ME), control (MC) and Sham group as regular swim exercise and RS administration (SHE), RS administration(SH), regular swim exercise (SE), control (SC). Then, the rats underwent either swim training (30min·d^(-1)) and/or RS administration (100 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days. TTC (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) staining and western blotting were conducted to assess infarct volume and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the injured hemisphere of the MCAO group (ipsilateral hemisphere in the Sham). Foot fault test, balance beam test and prehensile traction test were conducted to access motor functions at the 3rd and 10th day after treatments. The infarct volumes were significantly decreased in ME, MHE (p＜.001) and MH (p＜.01) compared to MC. The VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) expression was significantly higher in ME compared to MHE, MH (p＜.01) and MC, SE (p＜.001). There was significantly negative correlation between infarct volume and VEGF expression (p＜.01). Motor functions were significantly worsened in MCAO compared to shams (p＜.001), but all experimental treatment were improved in Motor functions in all MCAO groups (except MC) whereas no significant changes were founded in Sham. These observations suggest that RS administration and swimming training can reduce infarct volume leading to improved motor functions in MCAO rats.