Exercise for specific neurological conditions

PDFDownload this booklet in PDF format (26kb)

Brain injury, stroke and subarachnoid haemorrhage

Everyone is affected differently by brain injury and you will need to take it easy during your recovery – this means that it may not be appropriate for you to embark on an exercise regime for months after your injury. You will go through a period of rehabilitation, with physiotherapy and occupational therapy exercises that will help you regain basic physical skills. Your physiotherapist, GP or specialist will tell you what type of physical activity is suitable for you and when you can start increasing your levels of activity.
You may suffer from fatigue following your injury and it’s important to strike a balance between taking it easy and becoming more active. This can be easier said than done! Having finished a course of physiotherapy you may also feel nervous about putting exercises into practice without professional guidance.

The ARNI Trust (Action for Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury) works with stroke survivors following their physiotherapy, providing an intermediate programme of exercise that can help you become more independent. You can find out more about the ARNI programme here.

The Exercise and Stroke resource sheet from The Stroke Association is also useful.

You are advised to avoid contact sports like rugby, boxing and martial arts, and strenuous exercise like lifting weights, for at least 6 months following your injury.

Because of a risk of seizures, you should also be accompanied when going swimming for the first few months after your injury, when risk of a seizure is highest.

Related information resources



Useful contacts


Brain and Spine Helpline
Freephone: 0808 808 1000
Email: helpline@brainandspine.org.uk

The Stroke Association
Helpline: 0303 3033 100
Email: info@stroke.org.uk

Headway
Helpline: 0808 800 2244
Email: helpline@headway.org.uk

ARNI Trust
Tel: 07712 211378
Email: support@arni.uk.com
next chapter
Page 1 of 9

Contents