New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) The importance of exercise in stroke rehabilitation cannot be underestimated but experts on Saturday confirmed that short bouts of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can be more effective than continuous moderate physical exercise.
When a stroke occurs, blood flow to the brain is disrupted, causing damage that can affect physical and cognitive functions.
Exercise plays a vital role in the rehabilitation process by promoting neuroplasticity, where the brain prepares itself to regain lost functions.
HIIT involves performing one minute of continuous intense exercise followed by a short period of rest.
Stationary bike, treadmill, bodyweight, kettlebells, dumbbells or jump rope are some examples of HIIT workouts.
“HIIT represents a paradigm shift in rehabilitation, especially for stroke recovery,” Dr Vikram Hooded, HOD and Director and Clinical Lead, Department of Interventional Neurology, Narayana Health City, told IANS.
“Unlike traditional continuous moderate exercise, HIIT improves cardiovascular health more efficiently by prompting the body to adapt to short, intense bursts of activity,” said Dr Raghavendra Ramdasi, consultant neurosurgeon at Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai.
Several studies have shown that exercising after a stroke provides many health benefits, including reducing the risk of stroke recurrence and promoting recovery.
A recent study published in the journal Stroke showed that one minute of high-intensity interval training over 19 minutes was more effective than conventional moderate exercise for improving the body’s aerobic fitness after stroke.
Evidence suggests that HIIT can accelerate cardiovascular recovery and improve overall physical endurance more effectively than traditional methods.
Ramdasi told IANS that this method not only increases the heart and lung capacity but also improves circulation, which is important for brain recovery.
However, experts say that HIIT may not be suitable for everyone.
“Patients suffering from serious cardiac problems or those who are not yet physically stable after a stroke should avoid this type of exercise until they achieve a certain level of fitness,” Hooded said.
Patients who are medically stable seem to benefit the most from HIIT, Ramdasi said.
Experts urged stroke patients to “perform any type of exercise according to their ability and under the supervision of an expert to avoid potential risks.”
He also recommends starting at a lower intensity and slowly increasing it as tolerance improves.
–IANS
AKS/GKT
