5 Best Exercises for Seniors Who Survived a Stroke

About two-thirds of strokes happen in adults 65 and older, with about 800,000 cases occurring annually or once every 40 seconds.

For seniors who have already had a stroke, recovery can be a long, difficult journey. Your body needs time to heal. Exercising 30 minutes or more daily, two to three times weekly, can accelerate recovery.

Exercises for Senior Stroke Survivors

Here are five exercises senior stroke survivors can do to rebuild their strength, cognition, and mobility. Start slow and easy. If your body isn’t able to do the exercises completely, don’t give up, just take it at your own pace.

1. Core Strengthening Exercises

Some stroke survivors may struggle to regain strength on one side of their body. Also common after a stroke are balance issues. Core exercises promote stability and control, helping your body to regain balance.

Some of the best core strengthening exercises for seniors include:

Leg lifts
Knee rolls
Seated side bends
Seated knee lifts

2. Hydrotherapy

Aquatic exercises are among the best activities for seniors recovering from a stroke. Hydrotherapy is incredibly beneficial for stroke survivors who experience limb paralysis. The water’s buoyancy can alleviate the heavy feelings associated with this condition.

Swimming also helps seniors to strengthen their muscles gently due to resistance from the water. Warmer water soothes and loosens tight muscles and tissue, alleviating pain and tension.

3. Hand Exercises

Older adults wanting to regain their post-stroke motor skills should do daily hand exercises. While these can be initially challenging, exercising your hands becomes easier over time as you build strength and coordination. Seniors can use putty or strength balls while doing exercises.

Hand exercises that improve motor skills and strength include:

Pinching fingertips
Finger scissors
Gripping

4. Upper Body and Arm Exercises

Sitting at a table makes it easier for seniors to do upper body and arm exercises that improve their range of motion. This helps them perform daily tasks they couldn’t do immediately after their stroke.

To promote arm and upper body flexibility and functioning, try the following exercises:

Grasping objects
Picking up smaller items
Arm circles
Clasping the fingers of both of your hands together
Wrist, hand, and inner arm stretches

5. Walking

Walking improves a stroke survivor’s balance, cardiovascular functioning, and flexibility. Seniors who can do so should take a short stroll outside. Breathing in fresh air and spending time outdoors boosts your mental health, reducing feelings of frustration and depression.

Receive Support & Care from Visiting Angels Wilkes-Barre

Visiting Angels Wilkes-Barre, PA, is proud to provide award-winning caregiving solutions to seniors throughout Wilkes-Barre, Forty Fort, Mountain Top, Dallas, and the surrounding communities of Luzerne, Columbia, Wyoming, and Lackawanna counties.

We personalize our care plans to your exact needs, ensuring you live safely and comfortably as you recover. We also offer a Safe and Steady® fall prevention program that helps stroke survivors reduce their risk of slips, trips, and falls at home.