Exercising after a stroke can seem daunting, in this article we try to answer some questions patients may have about being physically active after a stroke.

Strokes affect more than 100,000 people in the UK each year and depending on the severity, can impact massively on your physical ability. After suffering a stroke, being active can help you stay healthy and feel good, and it can also reduce your risk of another stroke.

Being active can:

• Lower your blood pressure.
• Help you manage diabetes.
• Reduce cholesterol.
• Strengthen your heart and improve your circulation.
• Reduce the risk of a blood clot.
• Help with weight loss.
• Reduce fatigue.

Initially just getting moving can be a goal, as a stroke can severely impact your balance and walking. Because of this you could start by completing exercises at home such as walking, simple balance exercises or one of our home exercise videos which can be found here https://youtu.be/KU2EOl9sWKI.

Once your confidence and physical function improves, you may feel comfortable to come into the unit and complete a personalised exercise program set by one of the exercise physiologists. It has been shown that both cardiovascular and resistance training is beneficial to those recovering from a stroke and our staff will be on hand to any questions you might have.

If you want advice or know someone who would benefit from our Managing Long Term Conditions Programme after recovering from a stroke, please contact our exercise physiologists at 01922 725050 or email us at [email protected].

All stats from stroke.org 2022.

Jack Raby

Exercise Physiologist