Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) has been found to be beneficial for stroke prevention, according to a recent review published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. The review, conducted by Federico De Santis and colleagues from the University of L’Aquila in Italy, analyzed prospective cohort studies to examine the relationship between different levels of LTPA and the risk of stroke.

The study included 15 articles with 16 cohorts of patients, totaling 752,050 individuals who were followed for an average of 125.7 ± 77.5 months. The analysis identified three to five levels of LTPA, including none, below target, and ideal, or none, insufficient, low, moderate, and intense. The findings revealed that below-target and ideal LTPA significantly reduced stroke risk compared with no LTPA in studies identifying three levels of LTPA.

Additionally, in studies reporting on four or five levels of LTPA, the risk of stroke was found to be reduced with moderate LTPA compared to no LTPA. These benefits were observed to be independent of age and sex.

The authors of the review emphasized the importance of promoting physical activity to combat a sedentary lifestyle and encouraged individuals to strive for the best level of LTPA achievable based on their capabilities. They suggested that even partial achievement of LTPA goals could have a positive impact on stroke prevention.

The findings of this review underscore the significance of leisure-time physical activity in reducing the risk of stroke, providing further evidence of the importance of regular exercise for overall health and well-being.