Stroke Rehabilitation

DIFFERENT STROKES

What is a Stroke?

Stroke also known as Cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), are caused through either a rupture of a large blood vessel (haemorrhagic) in the brain, or through the occlusion of a tiny blood vessel (Ischemic stroke) that may affect a certain area of the brain.

A rupture of a large blood vessel known as haemorrhagic stroke is a result in blood leaking into the extra vascular space within the cranium or into the brain itself.  This bleeding damages the brain by cutting off connecting pathways and by causing localised or generalised pressure injury to brain tissue.

Ischemic Stroke is the result of an obstruction to the blood flow due to an occlusion within one or more blood vessels, which is the result of a clot forming and blocking an artery or arteriole.

From this occlusion or rupture to the brain it may result in damaging the following: - motor and sensory units, language, perception, affective and cognitive dysfunction, severe limitations in mobility and cognitive, the severity of injury to the brain during the stroke depends on how badly the above are affected.

What effects does exercise have on stroke sufferers?

• Most individuals that have suffered from a stroke go through a significant 6-month recovery period
• Stroke survivors require adequate supervision when exercising and may differ in abilities.  Endurance training has been proven to reduce co-morbidities and improve functional capacity; it also improves tolerance to activities of daily living and allows more physical activity to occur at a lower sub maximal threshold thus reducing myocardial oxygen demand
• Improving strength through resistance training and flexibility can improve co-ordination, cognitive impairments or severe limitations. 

What we have to offer

Windsor Leisure Centre holds a Stroke Rehabilitation class every Saturday at 1pm in conjunction with the organisers Different Strokes, Penny and Tony Reid.

The class consists of a 15 minute warm up with mobility and flexibility exercises, a circuit comprising of 10 stations, involving endurance, strength training and co-ordination skills.   10 minute cool down involving flexibility and relaxation techniques.

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