Doctors should prescribe exercise for stroke victims so that they can get their old movement back, prevent future stroke and heart attacks, and improve aerobic fitness, according to new guidelines from the American Heart Association on exercise for stroke survivors.

About 4.7 million stroke survivors live in the United States; some 700,000 people have a stroke every year. Studies have shown that exercise has physical and psychological benefits for stroke survivors. Also, exercise probably helps reduce the risk of another stroke or a heart attack. Stroke survivors, however, often have disabilities that make it hard to stay active, increasing their risk of heart disease and stroke. Traditionally, physical therapy after a stroke stops after several months, but newer research has shown that continuing rehabilitation is good for stroke survivors. An exercise program should be tailored to the individual survivor, but most people can exercise safely, according to the guidelines.

The guidelines were published in the April 27, 2004 issue of Circulation (Circulation 2004;109:2031-2041) and the May 2004 issue of Stroke (Stroke 2004; 35:1230-1240).

Find out more: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: http://www.ninds.nih.gov

American Stroke Association http://www.strokeassociation.org