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The perceived benefits of community-based group exercise sessions for survivors of stroke

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posted on 2020-05-22, 08:24 authored by Seshnee L. Dam, Daniel RhindDaniel Rhind
Background/Aims Post-stroke physical disability, cognitive impairment and emotional trauma can adversely affect the wellbeing of people who have survived stroke. Active participation in group exercise programmes has been advocated as an intervention to potentially enhance wellbeing. This study adopted a qualitative approach to explore the experiences of survivors of stroke who were participating in ongoing community-based group exercise sessions and their impact on subjective wellbeing. Methods Interviews were conducted with 12 participants from four community-based group exercise sessions. Of these, 6 were survivors of stroke (44-60 years) and the remaining 6 participants comprised caregivers, group coordinators and/or instructors, who were closely involved with sessions attended by the stroke survivors. Results Thematic analysis revealed that participation in community-based group exercise sessions offered survivors opportunities for building confidence; enhancing motivation; improving physical ability of affected limbs; enhancing interpersonal relationships; and providing support and knowledge. Participants all agreed that these physical and psychosocial benefits contributed to improved wellbeing and this supported previous research on the benefits of group work. Conclusions Participants explained how community-based group exercise sessions had facilitated their recovery journey and hence it is recommended that such programmes are made available, accessible and affordable to survivors of stroke.

History

School

  • Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Published in

International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation

Volume

27

Issue

2

Pages

1 - 14

Publisher

MA Healthcare Limited

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Rights holder

© MA Healthcare Limited

Publisher statement

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, copyright © MA Healthcare, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2016.0049.

Acceptance date

2019-11-05

Publication date

2020-02-02

Copyright date

2020

ISSN

1741-1645

eISSN

1759-779X

Language

  • en

Depositor

Dr Daniel Rhind. Deposit date: 21 May 2020

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