Treadmill Helps Post Stroke
Reported September 01, 2008
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Walking on a treadmill isnt just for people wanting to slim down; its also helping stroke victims regain mobility years after a stroke.
In a multi-institutional study spanning more than six months, researchers found patients who exercised on a treadmill three days a week for up to 40 minutes showed significant physical improvement over those who just performed stretching exercises. Walking speed in the treadmill group increased 51 percent compared to about 11 percent for those in the stretching group. Ground walking speed also increased among treadmill users by 19 percent. Researchers also found treadmill users were more physically fit at study completion, while those in the stretching group actually decreased in their physical fitness (based on patients VO2 peak — a measure of cardiac fitness).
Study authors say these findings suggest patients brains may retain the capacity to rewire through a treadmill exercise program months or years after conventional physical therapy has ended.
Many stroke survivors believe theres nothing to be gained from further rehabilitation, but our results suggest that health and functional benefits from walking on a treadmill can occur even decades out from stroke, Richard F. Macko, M.D., a professor of neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, was quoted as saying.
SOURCE: Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, 2008