2023-05-04 07:11:18
“Continuing light exercise for at least 4 hours a week for 6 months has a great effect”
After having a stroke, a study has found that doing ‘light exercise for more than 4 hours a week’ is desirable for the patient’s rehabilitation.
Researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden collected and analyzed data on about 1,400 men and women (average age 72 years) who suffered a stroke between October 2014 and June 2019 and took part in Swedish drug trials. 53% of participants increased their physical activity and 47% decreased it. As a result of the study, it was found that those who increased physical activity for more than 6 months had a much better recovery of physical function than those who did not.
Dr. Dongni Buparf (Institute for Neurochemical Physiology), the lead author of the study, said, “People who have suffered a stroke, regardless of the severity of their symptoms, can expect good results if they increase their physical activity.” Regular physical activity promotes plasticity in the brain and enables cellular level recovery. Adopting an active lifestyle increases mobility in stroke patients and lowers the risk of falls, depression and heart disease.
Dr. Buparf emphasized, “At least 4 hours of light exercise a week is desirable to overcome the aftereffects of a stroke.” She cited biking, walking, gardening, fishing, table tennis and bowling as her good physical activities. She also likes light strength training. In addition, smoking cessation, maintaining a normal weight, and practicing a healthy diet are essential.
According to the research team, physical activity is necessary right after a stroke and throughout life. Regular physical activity helps stroke recovery and significantly lowers the risk of stroke recurrence and cardiovascular disease.
The results of this study (Physical Activity Trajectories and Functional Recovery After Acute Stroke Among Adults in Sweden) were published in the ≪JAMA Network Open≫.
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