Objective To explore the effect mechanism of exercise intention on exercise behavior in stroke patients, so as to provide a reference for promoting patients′ exercise behavior.Methods The convenience sampling method was used to select 299 stroke patients. A questionnaire survey was conduct by using the General Information Survey Scale, Exercise Intention Scale, Exercise Program Scale, Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form.Results The exercise intention score of stroke patients was (14.41±3.48).The exercise self-efficacy score was (41.68±10.95).The exercise plan score was (30.85±7.51).The total metabolic equivalent of exercise behavior was 1 108（596，1 470） MET-min/week.Exercise intention had a positive effect on exercise behavior.Exercise planning mediated the relationship between exercise intention and exercise behavior, with the mediating effect accounting for 31.19% of the total effect, and exercise self-efficacy moderated the first half of the path of this mediating effect (β= 0.124,P＜0.05).Conclusion The exercise behavior of stroke patients needs to be improved. Exercise intention can not only directly predict exercise behavior, but also indirectly influence exercise behavior through exercise planning. Exercise self-efficacy plays a regulatory role in this process.Positive psychological interventions can stimulate the exercise intention of stroke patients, improve exercise self-efficacy, and help patients formulate a perfect personalized exercise plan to promote the generation and maintenance of exercise behavior.