“Our results are exciting, because just three to four hours a week of walking was associated with big reductions in mortality, and that may be attainable for many community members with prior stroke,” he said. “In addition, we found people achieved even greater benefit with walking six to seven hours per week. These results might have implications for guidelines for stroke survivors in the future.”
One other expert noted that although the study couldn’t prove cause and effect, there was a “dose-dependent” trend in the findings: As the amount of exercise rose, the risk of dying during the study period fell.
Azhar, who wasn’t involved in the new research, stressed that stroke survivors’ ability to be mobile and exercise of course varies greatly from patient-to-patient. He noted that many patients who had “functional difficulties,” other illnesses, financial issues or a lack of family support did not provide information in the study on just how much activity they engaged in each day.
“This is the very group that would tend to have less physical activity and have a higher risk of dying,” Azhar noted.
So, he said, “the challenge remaining is how to overcome the obstacles to increase physical activity in stroke survivors in the community, especially when resources are limited, and [other illnesses] exist.”
More information
The American Stroke Association has more on life after stroke.
Article Provided By HealthDay News
