Increased neighborhood fitness spaces are associated with increased physical activity levels after stroke

Preliminary research to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s 2024 International Stroke Conference shows that stroke survivors who live in areas with easy access to recreation centers and gyms are more likely to stay physically active after a stroke and even exercise more. There is a high possibility that it will. It will be held in Phoenix from February 7th to 9th.

“We know that stroke survivors need physical activity as part of their recovery. Our research results can be used in the community to help stroke patients continue their recovery after being discharged from the hospital. This suggests that it is important to discuss available physical activity resources with stroke patients,” said study lead author Jeffrey Wing, Ph.D., assistant professor of epidemiology at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. “If there are no nearby fitness facilities, neurologists should consider discharging patients to rehabilitation facilities where they can engage in physical activity.”

In this study, researchers examined the association between available fitness/exercise centers, pools, and gyms and physical activity among 333 New York City residents who had experienced a mild stroke. Data were geocoded, assigned to U.S. Census tracts, and merged with data from the National Neighborhood Data Archive (which collects information on the number of physical activity resources at the census tract level).

Geocoding is the process of converting a place description, such as an address or place name, into a location on the Earth’s surface. The researchers then measured the number of fitness and recreation centers, such as pools, gyms, and skating rinks, per square mile, and the changes in self-reported physical activity levels one year later (more active, about the same, or less). We investigated the relationship between stroke.

The analysis revealed the following:

• Approximately 17% of participants reported being more physically active one year after stroke, and 48% reported having about the same level of physical activity as before the stroke.
• After controlling for age, gender, and race, participants living in areas with abundant recreation and fitness resources (approximately 58 fitness resources) were more likely than those living in areas with fewer or no fitness resources. They were 57% more likely to be more active. Ethnicity, education, health insurance, and BMI.
• Similarly, the odds of reporting the same level of physical activity one year after stroke were lower for participants living in areas with abundant recreation centers and fitness resources than for those living in areas with fewer or no resources available. 47% higher than participants.

Previous research has shown that even moderate physical activity can be beneficial for stroke recovery, which could include walking, Wing said. “However, it is important to be aware of the availability or limited availability of exercise resources in a person’s immediate vicinity so that they can participate in exercise activities safely.”

Previous research has found that characteristics of the neighborhood built environment, such as access to recreational spaces that promote healthy eating and physical activity, are also associated with lower stroke rates, Wing said. It pointed out.

“The takeaway from this analysis is not that people should move to places with more resources for physical activity, but rather that they find ways to be active in their own neighborhoods,” said study co-author Julie. “We are encouraging people to do so,” he said. Dr. Strominger is a student in epidemiology at Ohio State University. “It’s the actions that lead to better outcomes, so the only thing that really matters is the action of moving your body.”

“This study is consistent with previous research on the importance of physical activity for optimal health. What is new is its focus on stroke survivors,” said volunteer expert at the American Stroke Association. said Dr. Daniel T. Lackland, EPI and Stroke Council member. FAHA is a professor of epidemiology and director of the Division of Translational Neuroscience and Population Research in the Department of Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. “It’s important for health professionals to discuss maintaining physical activity with stroke survivors. Find out if they know where they can exercise safely, and if they don’t, have that information readily available. Lackland was not involved in the study.

Research details and background:

• The analysis included 333 adults hospitalized with mild stroke and enrolled in the Discharge Education Strategies to Reduce Vascular Events (DESERVE) study.
• The DESERVE study was a randomized clinical trial of 546 stroke survivors conducted in New York City from 2012 to 2016.
• Fifty-two percent of participants were female, and the average age was 65 years. They self-identified as 35% Hispanic adults, 31% Black adults, 28% White adults, and 6% “other” race.

According to the authors, the main limitation of this study is that the results may not be generalizable to non-metropolitan areas of the United States. Furthermore, the data were extracted from clinical trials that included only stroke survivors who had suffered a mild stroke. Therefore, this association may not apply to severe stroke survivors. Also, while people in certain neighborhoods report doing more physical activity, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re taking advantage of neighborhood fitness and recreation resources.