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Cardio exercise after stroke is associated with neuroplasticty & better functional recovery

A Canadian research group has found evidence not only that doing more exercise is associated with greater gains in function and motor recovery but that cardiorespiratory exercise aids stroke recovery by promoting neuroplasticity.

Despite the benefits of cardio exercise early post-stroke, physiotherapists perceive that people who have had a stroke have rehabilitation goals related to improving physical function rather than addressing physiological impairments underlying function such as low cardiorespiratory fitness, which leads them to de-prioritize cardio exercise during limited therapy time.

Few clinical trials investigating the benefits of doing cardio exercise during stroke rehabilitation on functional recovery have been conducted to date but systematic reviews have reported that people with stroke who complete cardio exercise experience improved certain aspects of cognitive function, such as attention and processing speed, but not memory, problem-solving, executive function, or working memory.

Providing further evidence for a link between cardio exercise and improved outcomes, the group found that higher total time spent in cardio exercise correlated with greater improvement in total FIM (Functional Independence Measure), FIM motor and cognitive sub-scores, FAC, and CMSA arm, leg, and foot scores. These results indicate that a higher dose (ie, increased duration) of cardio exercise could lead to greater gains in functional independence.

Sarah Thompson, Augustine J. Devasahayam, Cynthia J. Danells, David Jagroop, Elizabeth L. Inness, Avril Mansfield,
Cardiorespiratory exercise during rehabilitation is associated with improved functional recovery early post-stroke: A cohort study,
Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Volume 68, Issue 8, 2025.

Read more at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877065725000715


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