The Effects of Physical Activity on Physical and Mental Health in Stroke Patients

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of yoga exercise invention on physical and mental health in stroke patients. METHOD: Sixty-six stroke patients were randomly assigned to the following two groups. Thirty-three patients were in the experimental group (age: 58.30±11.04 yr), another thirty patients were in the control group (age: 60.23±9.59 yr). The experimental group had performed yoga exercise 3 times a week for twelve weeks with each session lasting 60 minutes per day, including warm-up (10 minutes), main exercise (35 minutes) and moderate stretching & meditation (15 minutes), additionally except rehabilitation courses held by the hospital. The control group had not carried out any exercise intervention except rehabilitation courses. The Borg balance scale, Beck depression inventory, quality of sleep, and quality of life were tested before and after yoga exercise intervention. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied to examine the difference between experimental and control groups on balance, depression, quality of sleep and quality of life. RESULT: The score of Borg balance scale for stroke patients in the experimental group (↑9.62%) increased significantly compared to that in the control group (↑1.79%) (p<.05). The depression level in the experimental group (↓29.01%) decreased significantly compared to that in the control group (↓3.53%) (p<.05). The score of quality of sleep for stroke patients in the experimental group (↓29.37%) decreased significantly compared to that in the control group (↓4.67%) (p<.05). In addition, the score of quality of life in the experimental group (↑9.59%) increased significantly compared to that in the control group (↓2.18%) (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The result indicated that the yoga exercise intervention could improve the balance, depression levels, quality of sleep, and quality of life in stroke patients. As well as the yoga exercise intervention could be beneficial in physical and mental health for stroke patients.