Being active at home
Being active is a great way to improve overall health throughout your recovery and later on in life. It can help improve mood and increase energy levels. It can also help reduce the risk of another stroke. However, many stroke survivors have told us that they do not feel confident in being active.
This is particularly true now, with many exercise sessions and venues closed and limited access to expert advice. We have therefore teamed up with the charity A Stroke of Luck, who specialise in exercise-based recovery for stroke survivors, to produce a stroke-specific 12-week programme of short videos to help you be more active at home.
How do I take part?
To start you'll need to watch the introduction video below so you can understand how the videos meet your individual needs, and how to assess which group you belong in. There is also a dedicated video for carers to demonstrate both how you can best support someone doing the exercises and how you can look after yourself.
This is especially important if the person you are supporting is in the red or amber groups. Red is for people with limited mobility, amber for those with some mobility and green are for people who are independently mobile.
To start viewing, click play on the video below. To see what else we have on our playlist, click the three-line icon in the top right-hand corner of the video player. Alternatively, you can also visit our YouTube channel.
You can keep up with the programme on this page every Thursday, and to make sure you don't miss an episode, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Videos in the red group are for people who:
• Have limited mobility.
• Sit in a supported wheelchair/armchair.
• Use a hoist or rota stand for transfer.
• Require assistance from a carer to support movement and exercise.
• Fatigue very quickly.
Videos in the amber group are for people who:
• Have some mobility.
• Can sit without support.
• Can move but may need to be supported on their weaker side.
• Can grip an object.
• Can walk with assistance and/or walking aid.
• Need to hold bannisters when going up and downstairs.
• Can exercise independently but may require support from a piece of furniture.
• May need assistance when fatigued.
Videos in the green group are for people who:
• Are independently mobile.
• Can grip an object.
• Do not need a walking aid.
• Can walk as a form of exercise.
• Can go up and down stairs unaided.
• Can get on the floor and back up unaided.
• Have a good range of motion.
• Can complete an exercise programme independently.
Each video is led by a qualified physiotherapist and includes written coaching notes to emphasise points to work on. These videos are intended to support the rehabilitation needs of stroke survivors but may not be suitable for everyone. Before using these videos, please discuss their suitability with your doctor or stroke health professional.
More support for you
Read more about exercising at home after a stroke on My Stroke Guide, along with some tips and advice on how and when to exercise. Additional information can be found on our Stroke Association website on staying active when you're staying at home and there's also help and information on getting moving after a stroke.
Read more about these videos and what others are saying in the forums. Join the conversation and share your experience. We'd love to hear your feedback.