“Physical activity during leisure time and as transportation is becoming increasingly important now that many jobs and domestic activities are becoming more sedentary,” says the lead author of the study Adam Viktorisson, researcher at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
The study
This study involved 3,614 participants, 269 of whom experienced a stroke during the 20 years covered in the study. 120 of the 269 who suffered a stroke had either died or became dependent on help to carry out their day-to-day activities three months after having the stroke.
The researchers utilized data from the INTERGENE cohort at the University of Gothenburg wherein participants were surveyed, and data was collected from 2001 to 2004, encompassing both clinical data and questionnaire data. During the study data was collected on physical activity via surveys, and some of the participants wore pedometers.
What they found
Those who did light physical activity in their leisure time, such as walking or cycling for at least four hours a week, and those who engaged in more vigorous activities such as running, swimming, or playing tennis for at least 2–3 hours a week, were found to have a 40% lower risk of stroke compared with those who were inactive.
Those who cycled for 20–40 minutes a day, such as to and from work, were found to have a 30% lower stroke risk compared to those who did not use a physically active mode of transport.
Additionally, those who were the most active in their leisure time also had a lower risk of suffering a severe stroke, which was defined as death or dependence on assistance to carry out activities of daily living three months after a stroke. There was no difference in stroke risk between those who carried out low, moderate, or high physical activity at work or in the home.
The analysis revealed that physical activity during leisure time or for transportation was linked to objective measurements from the pedometers while day-to-day physical activity at work and home was not. The researchers hope that their results will bring greater awareness and lead to changes in public health policy that encourage more physical activity in society.
Promoting public health
“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” Adam Viktorisson points out. “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.”
“Encouraging people to be physically active in their daily lives, for example by walking, cycling, and doing other types of exercise, can be an important strategy in reducing the number of strokes and improving the prognosis of people who suffer a stroke,” says Adam Viktorisson.
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https://www.gu.se/en/news/everyday-activities-arent-enough-to-protect-against-stroke
