Unfortunately I’ve had more than one relative suffer strokes within a fairly short time and so it is something that weighs on my mind and fuels my commitment to eating well and working out, especially knowing that stroke is more common in people whose close relatives have had stroke at an early age. While I am trained to work with people who have suffered strokes, I try to teach people to live healthier and avoid getting a stroke to begin with. It is the leading cause of adult disability.
Ninety percent of strokes are caused by the narrowing of arteries to the brain and are brought on by a number of factors including , lack of exercise, overweight, binge drinking, smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure all of which can contribute to the conditions that lead to the restriction of blood flow to the brain. The lack of oxygen and glucose reaching the brain kills brain cells and causes brain damage, often resulting in an impairment in speech, movement, and memory.
The good news is that they are preventable, and even if you have suffered a stroke or experienced the warning signs of a stroke, it is critical that you meet with and work with your physician to determine the causes and the best treatment. Either way, exercise is likely to be a big part of the remedy so in addition to your Doctor, you may want to meet with your Personal Trainer. Both will tell you that physical activity is not just a way of avoiding a stroke, but will play a major role in your rehabilitation if you have suffered a stroke. Early detection is important to getting treatment and resuming a productive life.
Spasticity is one of the most common symptoms after a stroke and involves a constant and unwanted contraction of one or more muscle groups as a result of the episode or stroke. Over time spasticity can prevent the normal voluntary contraction of affected muscles and may affect balance. This is where weight training comes in.
Weight or resistance training is an important part of your recovery, but as with every weight lifting programme, the rule is to start light and gradually increase resistance, preferably in a cautious position, such as in a sitting position. It is also important to avoid putting too much strain on the joints. This is because if your mobility, or even your ability to stand has been at all restricted, then you may be at greater risk for osteoporosis. That means being careful to avoid exercise that may result in you falling or overloading your joints. Excessive weight could lead to injury and unnecessary strain. ALWAYS exercise at a safe pace. Proper breathing is doubly important here too because holding your breath during exercise can cause a spike in blood pressure which is not desirable.
Equally important as strength training is flexibility training. Disabled joints and muscles need to be stretched as much as their functional counterparts. You should try to stretch everyday. Try to incorporate balance exercises as well.
Stroke can cause victims to become stooped, so posture during exercise is important, as is doing specific exercises to improve posture. Emphasize extension and rotation of the mid section or trunk, hips, knees, neck, head, and shoulders.
When speaking with your Doctor, or Trainer, ask about a cardio programme and whether one is safe for you. It may mean adjusting your workout to stay within a modified range in which case a heart rate monitor may be a valuable tool.
Diet is also important especially if your stroke was a direct result of fatty build up or clotting of the arteries in which case a proper diet could be all the difference between recovery and relapse. But if you haven’t had a stroke, and follow all these rules-exercise regularly, including weight training, aerobics and flexibility training and healthy eating-your chances of ever suffering a stroke will be significantly reduced.
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