Ασκήσεις μετά από εγκεφαλικό — AHA 2014, νευροπλαστικότητα

The AHA 2014 adult stroke rehabilitation guidelines and the 2024 update position exercise as core treatment, not just supportive care. Stroke recovery is driven by neuroplasticity — the brain's ability to rewire — and exercise is the strongest known driver of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which underwrites synaptic rewiring. The protocol: aerobic training 3-5 days/week (start at 40-50% heart-rate reserve and progress under medical guidance), resistance training 2-3 days/week with progressive loading on the affected side, and balance training daily. Combined, this reduces secondary stroke risk (huge — recurrence in 20-30% of survivors in the first 5 years) AND improves functional outcomes. Aquatic exercise is particularly valuable when affected-side weight-bearing is a problem. Mirror therapy and constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) have specific evidence for hand/arm — those require OT/PT supervision.

Volya's catalogue carries the foundation: slow-arm-swing-walk and standing-march for the cardio entry, seated-march when standing is not yet feasible, single-leg-stance and tandem-stance for progressive balance challenges (start with hand support, progress to hands-free over weeks), sit-to-stand for functional strength + the eccentric leg work that addresses post-stroke weakness, wall-push-up for upper-body strength tolerable on the affected side, scapular-retraction for posture, cat-cow for spinal mobility. The AI coach also knows the nutrition side — Mediterranean diet reduces secondary stroke risk (PREDIMED), sodium ≤2 g/day for BP control, swallowing-problem (dysphagia) coordination with speech-language pathologist, alcohol avoidance in early recovery, omega-3 (algae for vegans, anticoagulant flag — you're likely on aspirin/clopidogrel/warfarin), vitamin D test-first, B-vitamins for homocysteine reduction (vegan B12 mandatory), constipation management. CRITICAL: this is NEVER a replacement for your neurology follow-up + antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy. Get medical clearance before any moderate-to-high intensity work. Coordinate with your stroke team on every change.