Stroke Survivors: Exercise and Nintendo Wii Can Help

Posted April 22, 2008 at 04:45 PM by Denise Musumeci

Section: His Fitness, Injuries & Rehab, His Health, Physical Health, Lifestyle Health, His Inspiration, Success Stories

A stroke is one of the top three killers of Americans each year. For those who survive, many are left with severe disabilities.  The good news is that exercise can help stroke victims recover more quickly. Further, it may counteract some of the damages that many survivors suffer from on a daily basis. From treadmill walking to the Nintendo Wii, doctors are encouraging exercise in these victims to help with recovery.

First, let’s talk a little bit about what a stroke actually is. A stroke occurs with when a blood clot forms in a damaged vessel. Here, it blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Another way a stroke can occur is when a damaged vessel in the brain suddenly bursts, according to BBC news in the UK. Many survivors suffer severe disability because of weakness in their arms or legs. WebMD says, “During a stroke, blood flow to part of the brain is cut off, often leaving patients partially paralyzed and, in many cases, unable to care of themselves.”

As far as exercise goes, there are many things a stroke survivor can do to improve their current state of debilitation. First, they should talk to their doctor. Next, they should become educated about how exercise can improve their health and speed their recovery.

Edward Taub, PhD, performed a study that demonstrates the direct impact that exercise has on stroke victims. He evaluated 13 men and women between ages 33 and 73 who suffered strokes 6 months to 17 years prior to the study. The results show that exercising dramatically improves motor function and the ability to perform everyday tasks and progress remained constant during the entire six-month study. Many are still performing just as well two years after the stroke. According to Taub, the therapy effectively “rewires the brain almost back to normal.”

Treadmill exercise is showing to be beneficial for stroke victims. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends treadmill exercises as part of rehabilitation. According to ACSM, “structured treadmill exercise increases gait efficiency, so less energy is used for walking, making the task of walking less stressful.” In addition, there is an improvement in aerobic capacity when a stroke survivor exercises on a treadmill.  This basically means that as individuals walk, they save some energy, which eases the burden that is put on their bodies. If a victim has trouble walking, they can get free-weight support, such as a harness, to help them stand up so they can exercise and work on their motor reflexes to improve their physical state.

Some liberal doctors are actually turning toward the Nintendo Wii to help with the recovery of stroke victims. Unlike the majority of video games, the Wii, because of its motion-sensitive controllers, involves some of the motor movements involved in regular sports, such as tennis, golf, or boxing—without the harsh impact on the body. Moreover, it’s fun. Doctors in the U.S. are now beginning to use the Wii to help stroke victims regain movement in their arms and legs. Further, German clinicians have also been reported to be using it to help speed up recovery in injured soldiers.

However, not everybody can afford a Wii. Moreover, a major drawback to physical therapy and post-stroke surgery is that it is expensive and insurance companies may not cover many of the expenses that are necessary for improvement. It is up to the victims, as well as doctors, to ensure that proper exercise and diet are followed to help ensure at least some improvement. This does not mean that victims will be able to do all of the same exercises that they used to be able to do (before their stroke). Why?

Doing too many intense exercises may lead to another stroke or injury. It is very important that patients see their doctors regularly and seek their advise on how they should be exercising before they implement any of the above suggestions.

Doctors will be able to give good exercise advice as they monitor improvement after the stroke. MRI’s should be done regularly to check for improvements or damages to the brain.

More extensive research is being done to determine how much one can benefit from different types of exercises after a stroke.

Some suggestions offered from About.com include 20-60 minutes of aerobic exercise three to seven days a week, strength training with light weights two to three times a week, and two to three balance exercises each week. Before you engage in any of these exercises, however, talk to your doctor first to make sure he or she feels that you are ready to engage in them. If you or a family member has had a stroke, visit your doctor, or visit WebMD to explore your options and see how exercise can help, as well as other therapies that may be recommended. Also remember that even though therapy may only last a few months, you should continue exercising after it’s over to improve your condition.

Research sources and for more information: [CBS News]; [cleaveland leader]