Exercise After A Stroke Can It Improve Brain Function?

So, after a stroke can exercise improve brain function?  With stroke a leading cause disability in Australia, identifying stroke recovery tools which can help stroke survivors is critical.

Findings from the University of Pittsburgh researchers at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2017 reports If you want to improve cognitive function after stroke, exercise appears to be of significant benefit.

Report Findings: Exercise After A Stroke

In a meta analysis of 13 trials which totaled 735 people the University of Pittsburgh team found tailored physical activity programs significantly improve cognitive changes among stroke patients regardless of the length the rehab program.

They reported

• Structured exercise may be a good strategy to promote cognitive recovery after stroke.
• Programs as short as 12 weeks were observed to be effective at improving cognitive function
• Survivors in recovery after stroke one year plus later ( chronic) also experienced improvement with their cognitive performance
• Represents a low cost intervention
• Combined strength and aerobic programs were noted to experience the largest cognitive gains

Exercise After A Stroke and OT Brisbane

What excites us about this is the potential application for long term stroke survivors as  we’re often asked what type of exercise should you do?

We also see the opportunity to apply the research finding for long term stroke survivors who are within the Aged Care support systems be it in the home or residential aged care settings.

We’d like to see the research to qualify cognitive performance in terms of every day tasks skills and abilities.

Evidence: Erickson, K and Oberlin L (2016) Effects of Exercise on Cognition, Brain Structure, and Brain Function in Older Adults: Linking Cognitive and Cerebral Aging Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging, pp.439-460

Source: https://news.heart.org/exercise-can-significantly-improve-brain-function-after-stroke/

Other Blog Articles You May be Interested In

• Recovery After Stroke One Year (Plus) Later: 6 Resources For Your Recovery One Year (Plus) After A Stroke Years after a stroke, is it too late to improve? Recovery after stroke is commonly a long journey.
• Home Modification Information: You can access a Comprehensive Resource List For Your Home Modifications

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