Why should exercise be an integral part of neuro-rehab?

Any form of physical activity plays a significant role in treating patients with neurological disorders, to recover as many functions as possible.

Exercise has been shown to have numerous benefits for people suffering from neurological conditions, including: 

Improving muscle strength and endurance: Exercise can help to improve muscle strength and endurance, which can be particularly important for people with neurological conditions who may have weakness or poor muscle tone.

• Improving mobility: Exercise can help to improve balance and coordination, which play a crucial role in people with neurological conditions such as hemiplegia or head injury. 
• Improving cognitive function: Exercise has been shown to improve cognitive function in people with neurological conditions, including memory, attention, and problem-solving. Cognition gets impaired in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia. 
• Reducing the risk of secondary complications: Exercise can help to reduce the risk of secondary complications such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, which can occur in people with neurological conditions. Studies have shown obesity is associated with mild cognitive impairment and poly neuropathy. 
• Improving mental health: Exercise has been shown to improve mental health especially, people with neurological conditions who may be at increased risk of depression and anxiety.

Overall, the benefits of exercise for neurorehabilitation are numerous, and it is an important part of treatment for people with neurological conditions.

A very important question we can ask ourselves – is it possible to prevent our body & brain from neurological disorders with the help of exercising regularly?

In very simple words, let’s understand a little basic -When we do any form of exercise, cardio, lift heavy weights, we are putting our body under stress. During this stress period, all our neurotransmitters & hormones work together to help us exercise hard.

This process then results in neurogenesis & neuroplasticity, which simply means our brain grows new neurons, makes better connections with the body and improves responses to external or internal stimuli. 

Furthermore, exercise improves blood circulation, so more oxygen will be pumped into our brain, which improves our functioning.

Therefore, regular physical activity refines our brain health, including improving cognitive function and reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. 

Post exercise, our body releases “Happy Hormones” – Dopamine, Serotonin and have a positive impact on mental health, which can be beneficial for people at risk of developing neurological conditions such as depression and anxiety.

However, it is also important to recognize that some neurological disorders, such as those that are genetic in nature, may not be preventable. 

As per researchers, Depression is among the  five biggest killers in the world today. Do we know which medication is the best anti-depressant? 

Is it possible that “EXERCISE” is the best anti-depressant medication? Why do we have to take prescribed drugs when exercise can release our in-built stress-relieving hormones like Dopamine? 

As a conclusion, undoubtedly, exercise is an integral part of Neuro-Rehab, but if exercise becomes part of our daily routine, we won’t be needing rehabilitation.

Harpreet Kaur is a physiotherapist, sports exercise specialist, corrective exercise specialist & REPS certified fitness coach. With 15 years of experience in the health industry, she recently started as an entrepreneur, with a goal to educate the community about exercise connection with human body. See more at https://fitwithpreet.com