Exercise and stroke recovery

Photo from U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention

Nothing surprising in this report, how exercise aids in stroke recovery:

"There is strong evidence that physical activity and exercise after stroke can improve cardiovascular fitness, walking ability and upper arm strength," statement author Sandra Billinger, a physical therapist at the University of Kansas Medical Center, said in an AHA/ASA news release.

"In addition, emerging research suggests exercise may improve depressive symptoms, cognitive function, memory and quality of life after stroke," she added.

Despite these benefits, "too few health care professionals prescribe exercise as a form of therapy for stroke. There is a big gap in America between once stroke patients are discharged from rehabilitation and the transition to community exercise programs when they go home. Many are left on their own. We don't have a system in place to help stroke patients feel comfortable with exercise," Billinger said.

It's pretty self-evident that exercise- whatever level you can - is generally good for you. It can extend the length and quality of your life. It can be a tool in preventing strokes and other serious ailments.

If you've been here before, you've seen lots of references to the benefits of exercise. And I'm convinced that my history of a distance runner helped me survive my stroke and get through recovery.

So - with your doctor's blessing, exercise if you can, to whatever degree you can.