(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Having a stroke and losing a part of your mobility can be frightening, not only in the initial recovery period. Afterwards, when the thought of regaining your full functional capabilities seems a long way off, this can also be scary.

But the sooner you start to be more active – with the permission and supervision of your health care professionals – the sooner you can start to recover. According to the Stroke Association, becoming active again can help to rebuild your confidence, improve your sleep and help put the management of other health conditions back on track.

What are the Limitations Following a Stroke?

The most commonly felt physical effects which can impair a patient’s ability to walk, care for themselves or even get out of bed are muscle weakness and paralysis. These are often felt down one side of the body. Extreme fatigue, lack of coordinated movement and pain are factors which can contribute to lack of motivation. People can also suffer with impairment of their memory, vision and language skills to one degree or another.

Recovering from a stroke is undoubtedly easier with live-in carer as a care giver can supervise and manage rehabilitation exercises in the home. One of the most effective ways to a recovery is exercise. Rehabilitative exercise can go some way to helping prevent a stroke happening again.

Exercises for Post Stroke Recovery

In the first days and weeks following a stroke, a patient who is allowed to go back to their home will need extra help with daily domiciliary care as well as with rehabilitation, exercise and particularly, with keeping count of repetitions.

The following exercises should ideally be done 2/3 times daily with 10-15 repetitions of each. Try to do them at least 3 days a week, always with supervision.

1 Wrist Curls

Hold something like a can of beans or bottle of water, nothing too heavy, in the palm of your hand with your forearm facing up and resting on a flat surface. Flex the wrist by bringing the palm up towards the forearm. Then, with the forearm facing down, bring the palm towards the forearm. These exercises improve forearm strength and range of motion.

3 Shoulder Strengthener

Bend your elbows to 90 degrees at your sides. While keeping arms tucked into the sides move the forearms outwards as if opening a door. Squeeze the shoulder blades together as you do. This exercise can prevent frozen shoulder by improving the range of motion.

3 Hip Flexion

Sitting on the edge of a chair or bed, tighten stomach muscles and lift one knee up as high as you can. Repeat with the other knee. Vary the exercise by stretching a foot out to one side with toes pointed and repeat with the other leg. These exercises improve core stability and coordination.

4 Sit to Stand

Sitting on the edge of a chair or bed with feet flat on the floor, lean forward slightly and slowly stand up. Slowly sit again.

5 Arm Raises

Slowly raise your arms up, first in front of you then sideways.

You should do these with help and support from a professional care giver. However, if you’re worried about your ability to perform these exercises it could be worth speaking to your doctor.