The document summarizes a study that tested whether a weekly community-based exercise class could benefit independently mobile stroke survivors, similar to a previous study called the Starter Trial. The class focused on exercises for stamina, strength, balance, and cooling down. All participants who attended an average of nine out of twelve sessions showed improvements, with average improvements of 19% on the 10-meter walk test and 26% on the Timed Up and Go test. One participant improved his Timed Up and Go time by over 50%. The results suggest that targeted exercise should be an integral part of stroke rehabilitation programs.

1. ✓ 100% Success
Exercise for stroke survivors
in a community setting
Camden active health team
The original research study:
Starter Trial (Mead 2007)
Stroke: A Randomised Trial of Exercise or Relaxation.
Initiate a lifestyle change in individuals at risk of developing
cardiovascular disease (CVD), using a physical activity and
behaviour change intervention.
• 66 independently mobile stroke survivors (with and without
walking aids)
• Randomly selected to take part in an exercise group or a
relaxation group
• Three times a week for 12 weeks.
• Tests were done at the start and end of the 12 weeks
• Transport was provided for patients.
Tests to measure success
• The Timed Up And Go (TUAG) : The patient is timed to see
how long it takes them to get up from a chair, walk three
metres around a cone and sit back down again.
• The 10 metre walk: The time it takes for a patient to walk
10 metres.
Results
After 12 weeks the TUAG and the 10 m walk improvement was
higher in the exercise group than the relaxation group.
Conclusion
The independently mobile stroke survivors saw benefits both
physically, (can do more without feeling tired) and quality of life
(realising they can do more).
Is it possible to add a specialist Exercise and Fitness after Stroke class into
an existing GP referral programme?
Could we run a weekly Stroke Rehab community class (no transport provided)
based on the Starter trial and still make a difference?
What we did …..
Class
• Once a week for one hour in a community hospital gym
• The class contained a warm/up;
- movements to raise body temperature and loosen joints
• Exercises for stamina/endurance, to do more for longer;
- stationary bike (legs)
- lifting and lowering a ball (shoulders)
- sitting down and standing up (legs)
- a step (legs)
- press ups against the wall (arms)
- exercises for balance
• Exercises to improve strength;
- these were sitting down and standing up- slowly (legs),
- exercises to strengthen the back of your arms (triceps)
- picking up a pole and putting it back down without dropping it (biceps)
- back strengthening (back)
• Finishing exercises to cool the body down and stretch the muscles.
What happened…
Everyone that took part made an improvement.
• Average attendance nine sessions out of 12
• Average for 10m walk 19%
• Average for Timed Up and Go 26%
Gender Age %TUAG change %10m change
a. M 82 + 16 + 21
b. M 52 + 37 + 34
c. M 36 + 53 + 13
d. F 80 + 13 + 2
e. M 65 + 10 + 23
What we wanted to find out?
Our results show that all participants made significant improvements and suggest that targeted Exercise following a Stroke
should be an integral part of a referral programme.
All participants that took part made significant improvements in both TUAG and 10m walk. One participant improved his
TUAG by over 50% -he is able to now walk faster without his walking stick than he did before the trial with his walking stick).
What we found out in the end
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
a b c d e
% increase
Participants
%TUAG change %10m change