Treadmills Aid Stroke Survivors

Walking on the treadmill can help stroke survivors by rewiring the brain and helping with unassisted mobility as well as improve cardio. While it hasn't been determined whether the improvements to the brain functionality were caused by walking or if participants walked better because of increased brain functionality, walking on the treadmills seems to help stroke victims regain their brain and body functions. Anyone who has suffered a stroke and had their lives changed by new disabilities should be thrilled by the new avenue for treatment, that seems to even help long after their stroke.

Strokes are usually caused when the blood supply is either cut off or significantly reduced to the brain, cutting off the oxygen supply, which can leave those who survive paralyzed or significantly impaired and eventually lead to chronic disabilities. Physical rehabilitation and therapy is one aspect of treatment following a stroke.

In the August 29 issue of Stroke, the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers reported on their study, which showed walking on the treadmill can help stroke survivors walk again by rewiring the parts of the brain that control balance and motor skills. Seventy-one stroke victims, with an average age of 63, who had suffered strokes on average four years prior, were divided into two groups. Half of the patients walked on a treadmill at least three times a week for 40 minutes, over a six-month period, and the other half took on a stretching regime for the same amount of time. Some of those who participated in the treadmill regime had to be assisted by slings or tethers to be able to complete their exercise, due to stroke induced physical disabilities. The researchers with the University of Maryland and Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center measured their results in three categories: brain activity by MRIs, walking ability, and overall fitness. The treadmill group scored higher in all three categories.

The group that walked on the treadmill for the six months improved greatly even though half of the participants couldn't walk unassisted when starting the study. The researchers said brain scans showed great improvement in the treadmill group, their walking velocity went up by 51 percent and cardiovascular performance also increased; walking velocity only increased 11 percent in the group who did traditional stretching and their cardio decreased. MRIs showed that blood flow to the brainstem also increased in those who walked on the treadmill.

Don't believe that because you have paralysis after a stroke it is there to stay. The new study, performed by physicians at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, and the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center definitely proved otherwise. Currently, rehab only lasts for a short period of time post-stroke and the new study shows after regular rehab walking needs to be implemented as part of a regular exercise program for the stroke victims. Dr. Daniel Hanley, professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins, stated "The most important clinical aspect of the study is that it is saying recovery can occur long after a stroke and can occur even after all the routine therapies have been tried." He also stated "This is great news for stroke survivors because results clearly demonstrate that long-term stroke damage is not immutable and that with exercise it's never too late for the brain and body to recover."