Combination of Cognitive Therapy and Physical Training Improves Outcomes for Stroke Patients

After having a stroke, many patients struggle with chronic fatigue for the months and years after recovery.  Now researchers are saying that a combination of therapy and exercise training may help people who suffer lingering fatigue after a stroke get back to their normal activities.

For the study, a team at Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands tested two therapies, cognitive therapy, which included education and discussion about fatigue, and the other was physical training, which included walking, strength training and home exercises. Half of the participants received only cognitive therapy and the other half received cognitive therapy with exercise training.

Twelve weeks later, almost 60% of the patients who were receiving both therapies noted a noticeable change in their daily fatigue. More than double the number of only cognitive therapy patients who noticed an improvement (24%).

The findings, reported in the journal Stroke, suggest that a combination of cognitive therapy and exercise might help post-stroke fatigue and improve stroke rehabilitation efforts. If patients were less susceptible to fatigue, experts speculate that they may have better rehab outcomes and improved rehabilitation in general.

Bon Secours In Motion Physical Therapy clinics offer stroke rehabilitation programs for the residents of Hampton Roads in over a dozen conveniently-located clinics. Contact us for more information or to schedule a physical therapy appointment!

Source: FoxNews “Combo therapy may ease fatigue after stroke”