Research conducted at the University of Gothenburg shows that physical activities in our daily lives, at work or at home, are not enough to protect us from suffering a stroke. However, exercising in our free time and using active means of transport are associated with a lower risk of suffering a stroke.
“Physical activity during leisure time and as a means of transport is increasingly important now that many jobs and household activities are becoming more sedentary,” said lead study author Adam Viktorisson, a researcher at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
Twenty years of follow-up
The study involved 3,614 people from the Västra Götaland region, of whom 269 had suffered a stroke during the 20-year study period. Three months after the stroke, 120 of them had died or were dependent on assistance to carry out activities of daily living.
Data on physical activity were obtained from surveys. Some participants were also given a pedometer to wear. Physical activity during leisure time or for transportation showed a relationship with objective pedometer measurements, whereas physical activity at work did not.
Occupational physical activity did not protect
The health benefits of physical activity are well known, but previous studies tend to focus mainly on physical activity during leisure time. Research in recent years has shown that physical activity at work can have negative effects on health, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
“How and when we engage in physical activity appears to play a crucial role in determining its health benefits. In our study, leisure-time and transport-related physical activities were associated with a lower risk of stroke, while activities during work or at home were not,” says Adam Viktorisson.
“Physically demanding jobs are often associated with stress, limited opportunities for recovery, air pollution and generally poorer socioeconomic conditions, which can counteract the positive effects of physical activity.”
Promote public health
The study used data from the INTERGENE cohort at the University of Gothenburg. Study participants were surveyed and data was collected between 2001 and 2004, covering both clinical and questionnaire data. The researchers hope that these results will raise awareness and lead to changes in public health policies to encourage physical activity in society. “Encouraging people to be physically active in their daily lives, for example by walking, cycling and doing other types of exercise, may be an important strategy to reduce the number of strokes and improve the prognosis of people who suffer a stroke,” says Adam Viktorisson.