Exercising During Free Time, Using Active Modes of Transportation May Prevent Stroke

Performing daily activities, at work or in the home, doesn’t provide sufficient protection against stroke; however, exercising during free time and utilizing active modes of transportation like walking and biking can decrease the risk, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.

“Physical activity during leisure time and as transportation is becoming increasingly important now that many jobs and domestic activities are becoming more sedentary,” said Adam Viktorisson, a researcher at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg and the study’s lead author, via a press release.

Researchers assessed 3614 people from the Västra Götaland region, of whom 269 suffered a stroke in the 20 years of follow-up spanned by the study. A total of 120 of these patients had died or were dependent on help to carry out activities of daily living 3 months following the stroke.

Researchers analyzed physical activity data using surveys, and some participants were given a pedometer to wear. According to the results, performing physical activity during leisure time or for transportation was linked to reducing the risk of stroke, while physical activity at work was not.

“How and when we carry out physical activity seems to play a crucial role in determining its health benefits. In our study, leisure time- and transport-related physical activities were associated with a lower risk of stroke, whereas activities during work time or in the household were not,” Viktorisson said. “Physically demanding jobs are often linked to stress, little opportunity for recovery, air pollution, and generally poorer socioeconomic conditions, which can counteract the positive effects of physical activity.”