Last updated: February 2024

A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked (ischemic stroke) or there is sudden bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). In Canada, ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke and over 800,000 people live with stroke.

Physical Activity and Stroke

Regular physical activity can improve the risk factors related to an initial or recurrent stroke. These risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Regular physical activity can also improve:

• Your cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength
• Day-to-day activities including your balance and walking
• Fatigue and emotional well-being
• How your brain works (cognition)
• Quality of life

To experience the health benefits of physical activity, experts recommend the following:

• Accumulating 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity (e.g., brisk walking, cycling and household chores).
• Aiming for physical activity sessions of 20 to 60 minutes in length. Some people may need to start with shorter sessions (10 minutes) and then gradually lengthen their physical activity sessions as tolerated.
• Include 2 to 3 sessions each week of muscle strengthening activities and activities that safely challenge your balance to maximize benefits.

While physical activity is generally safe after a stroke, it is good to talk to your doctor or a qualified exercise professional before becoming more active. They can give you guidance about how to safely enjoy the benefits of physical activity if you have:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Experienced falls
• Difficulty with balance or walking
• Difficulty with your concentration (cognition)

Do activities you enjoy with family and friends to keep yourself motivated. Even doing a little bit of activity can have important health benefits.

Useful resources

Exercise after Stroke (Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Canada)
On this webpage you will find information about why physical activity is important, how to stay safe when you do physical activities, and types of physical activities that you can do as well as links to exercise programs and resources.

Aerobic Exercise After Stroke (Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Canada)
This patient guide provides information about why physical activity is important, types of physical activities that you can do, and how often and how hard to be physically active after a stroke.

7 Steps to Stroke Recovery – Step #1 – Exercise and Mobility (After Stroke BC, Canada)
This video provides information about why you should be physically active, how to stay safe during physical activities, and physical activity ideas.

FAME - Fitness and Mobility Exercise Program (University of British Columbia, Canada)
FAME is an evidence-based group exercise program for people with stroke who have some standing and walking ability. This website provides information on community sites in BC offering FAME and exercise videos for use at home. Please read How to use Fame@home before using the exercise videos.

TIME - Together In Movement and Exercise (Fraser Health Authority, Canada)
TIME is an in-person exercise program for adults with stroke, multiple sclerosis or other mobility concerns aimed at improving mobility and living independently. The TIME website for BC provides information on community sites offering the program and the TIME website for Ontario provides exercise videos for people with mobility challenges.

Physical Activity Counselling Toolkit (University of Alberta, Canada)
Topics O and P of this Toolkit are specific to stroke and describe the types of physical activities that you can do, how often and how hard to do them, and how to stay safe while doing them. This resource is intended to be used with your health care provider.

Enable Me: Exercise (Stroke Foundation, Australia)
On this webpage you will find information and resources, including videos and podcasts about why physical activity is important, how to incorporate physical activity in your day, and how to stay safe.

Move more after stroke (Stroke Foundation, Australia)
This webpage provides exercise routines for people with various levels of mobility, including how to incorporate physical activity into everyday life. Please watch the introductory video, which is at the top of the webpage, before using the videos.

Self Help 4 Stroke: Being Active (Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, UK)
This webpage provides information about why physical activity is beneficial, how to get started, overcoming things that might hold you back, and physical activities that you might choose as well as stories from other people living with stroke.

Stroke Exercise Video Programmes (My Stroke Guide, UK).
This webpage provides exercise videos for people with various levels of mobility after stroke. Please watch the Stroke Specific Exercise Video Introduction before using the videos.