Strength Training for the Stroke Survivor

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Strength training for Stroke Survivor's and other 'similarly' affected

 

Strength peaks at approximately 25 years of age, plateaus through 35 /40 years of age, and then shows an accelerating decline, with 25% loss by the age of 65 years and the muscle mass decreasing.    

Loss of strength progressively impedes every day living.  It becomes difficult to carry a 5 kg bag of groceries, to open a vial of medicine, and even to lift the body mass from a toilet seat.  The male/female strength ratio is - women are limited by a loss of strength at an earlier age than men. 

Muscle strength can be greatly improved by as little as 8 weeks of resisted training, even in 90 year olds.  Stronger muscles further enhance function by helping with osteo-arthritic joints and reducing the risk of falls. At one time, it was thought that resistance exercise (strength training)  might cause a dangerous rise in the blood pressure, provoking a heart attack but this has been show not to be the case.

 

For many who have experienced a Stroke, muscle weakness is by far the most prominent impairment.

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• Strength training is recommended for all adults, it helps in not only building or gaining muscle but also in toning or strengthening your muscle, so that you will retain the strength.                   

• Resistance training not only helps build your muscle and maintain weight,it also helps to slow the aging process. Resistance exercise can be successfully done at home, you can do strength training using your own body weight, without any equipment, or use free weights, resistance bands or machines at home.                                   

• Strength training is an important component of                                   weight loss and weight maintenance.
   

Every movement we make ,walking to driving, involves our muscles. Muscles are unique.               Muscles have the ability to relax, contract, and produce force. Muscles are metabolically               active, meaning that the more muscle you have, the more calories your body uses at rest               and during exercise. Your muscles are highly responsive to strength training, which helps them to become larger and stronger.
Without strength training, muscle size and strength decline with age. Statically an inactive person loses half a pound of muscle every year after age 20.

 

 

 

Strength training is the process of exercising with progressively heavier resistance for the purpose of strengthening the musculoskeletal system. It is also referred to as weight lifting, weight training, body sculpting, toning, body building, and resistance training. Regular strength training increases the size and strength of the muscle fibers. It also strengthens the tendons, ligaments, and bones. All of these changes have a positive impact on your physical fitness, appearance, and metabolism, while reducing the risk of injury and decreasing joint and muscle pain. Muscle is metabolically-active tissue. This means that the more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism is while at rest.

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