Table 1.
The impact of pre-stroke exercise on reducing the risk of stroke in clinical studies
| Study | Study population/duration | Study objectives | Stroke outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbott et al. (1994) [17] | 7,530 men | Examines the relation between the levels of pre-stroke exercise and stroke risk | Physical exercise significantly reduced the risk of stroke |
| Honolulu Heart Program | Age: 45–68 years | ||
| Over 22 years | |||
| Gillum et al. (1996) [18] | 5,852 (men & women) | Examine impact of exercise on stroke incidence | Physical inactivity was associated with increased risk of stroke |
| NHANES 1 | Age: 45–74 years | ||
| Average follow-up of 11.6 years | |||
| Sacco et al. (1998) [19] | 1,047 (men & women) | Investigate the association between leisure- time physical exercise and ischemic stroke | Leisure-time physical exercise significantly reduced the occurrence of ischemic stroke |
| The Northern Manhattan Stroke Study | Age: 69.9±12 years | ||
| Over 30 months | |||
| Willey et al. (2009) [21] | 3,298 (men & women) | Examine the effect of physical exercise, as measured by intensity on protection against ischemic stroke | Moderate- to heavy-intensity physical exercise is protective against risk of ischemic stroke in men, but not in women |
| The Northern Manhattan Study | Age: 69.2±10.3 years | ||
| Median of 9.1 years | |||
| Lee et al. (1998) [22] | 11,130 men | Examine the effect of different types of exercise (walking, climbing stairs, participation in sports and recreational activities) on stroke risk | Physical exercise was associated with decreased stroke risk in men |
| The Harvard alumni Health Study | Mean age: 58 years | ||
| Around 13 years (from 1977 till 1990) | |||
| Armstrong et al. (2015) [23] | 1.1 million women | Examine the effects of the frequency and duration of exercise on the incidence of coronary heart disease, venous thromboembolism and cerebrovascular diseases | Physical exercise was associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease, venous thromboembolic event, and cerebrovascular disease than inactivity |
| Age: 50–64 years | |||
| Around 9 years follow-up | |||
| Krarup et al. (2007) [24] | 428 (men & women) | Investigate the level of physical exercise of stroke patient during the week preceding the stroke event | Stroke patients are less physically active in the week preceding an ischemic stroke when compared to age- and sex-matched controls |
| Age ≥40 years | |||
| 2003–2004 |
Table 1 summarizes the clinical studies that showed a positive impact of exercise on reducing the risk of stroke.
NHANES 1, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1.