Role of physical activity in enhancing physical quality of life for stroke prevention
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v70.116799Keywords:
Cardiovascular health, intervention, moderate exercise, physical activity, prevention, quality of life, stroke, agingAbstract
Introduction: stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide. physical activity has been increasingly recognized as a modifiable lifestyle factor for improving health outcomes and preventing chronic diseases.
Objective: the objective of this study was to examine the role of physical activity in enhancing physical quality of life and reducing stroke risk, with a particular focus on the effects of different activity intensities.
Methodology: a longitudinal intervention study was conducted involving 180 participants aged 45 to 70, divided into moderate-intensity, low-intensity, and control groups. data were collected at baseline and after a six-month intervention period using validated physiological and quality of life measures.
Results: participants in the moderate-intensity group showed significantly greater improvements in physical quality of life and cardiovascular health indicators compared to other groups. statistical analyses confirmed a dose-response effect and significant mediation by cardiovascular health.
Discussion: the findings aligned with existing literature indicating that structured physical activity reduces stroke risk and enhances physical well-being. the results also confirmed that these benefits are partly explained by improvements in cardiovascular function.
Conclusions: moderate-intensity physical activity should be promoted as an effective strategy for enhancing quality of life and preventing stroke in middle-aged and older adults.
References
Ali, A., Tabassum, D., Baig, S. S., Moyle, B., Redgrave, J., Nichols, S., ... & Majid, A. (2021). Effect of exer-cise interventions on health-related quality of life after stroke and transient ischemic attack: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Stroke, 52(7), 2445-2455. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.032979
Arida, R. M., & Teixeira-Machado, L. (2021). The contribution of physical exercise to brain resilience. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 14, 626769. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2020.626769
Baragash, R. S., Aldowah, H., & Ghazal, S. (2022). Virtual and augmented reality applications to impro-ve older adults’ quality of life: A systematic mapping review and future directions. Digital health, 8, 20552076221132099. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221132099
Barakou, I., Seves, B. L., Abonie, U. S., Finch, T., Hackett, K. L., & Hettinga, F. J. (2025). Health-related quality of life associated with fatigue, physical activity and activity pacing in adults with chro-nic conditions. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 17(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01057-x
Bennett, P. N., Kohzuki, M., Bohm, C., Roshanravan, B., Bakker, S. J., Viana, J. L., ... & Network, G. R. E. (2022). Global policy barriers and enablers to exercise and physical activity in kidney care. Journal of Renal Nutrition, 32(4), 441-449. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jrn.2021.06.007
Bernardes, R. A., Giannouli, E., Neves, H., & Parola, V. (2025). User-centered technology for exercise optimization in older adults. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 7, 1558979. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1558979
Charzewski, P., & Starzyk, A. (2025). Endurance Training for Cardiovascular Health: Insights into Risk Reduction and Heart Disease Prevention. Quality in Sport, 37, 58217-58217. https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2025.37.58217
Cuccurullo, S. J., Fleming, T. K., Petrosyan, H., Hanley, D. F., & Raghavan, P. (2024). Mechanisms and benefits of cardiac rehabilitation in individuals with stroke: emerging role of its impact on im-proving cardiovascular and neurovascular health. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 11, 1376616. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1376616
Damsbo, A. G., Blauenfeldt, R. A., Andersen, G., Johnsen, S. P., & Mortensen, J. K. (2025). Trajectories of physical activity after ischaemic stroke: Exploring prediction of change. European Journal of Neurology, 32(1), e16545. https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.16545
Dogru-Huzmeli, E., Guntel, M., Tambag, H., Kutlu, Y., Lekesiz, E., Daglı, O., ... & Auais, M. (2025). The effect of a students led caregiving support program on depression, sleep quality and quality of life of the caregivers and patients with stroke. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2025.2451208
Edmizal, E. ., Barlian, E. ., Donie, D., Komaini, A. ., Hauw Sin, T., Umar, U., … Haryanto, J. (2024). Análi-sis biomecánico del smash Stroke en bádminton: un estudio comparativo entre jugadores de élite y recreativos: una revisión sistemática (Biomechanical Analysis of Smash Stroke in Bad-minton: A Comparative Study of Elite and Recreational Players: a systematic review). Retos, 57, 809–817. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v57.107662
Elendu, C., Amaechi, D. C., Elendu, T. C., Ibhiedu, J. O., Egbunu, E. O., Ndam, A. R., ... & Temilade, A. V. (2023). Stroke and cognitive impairment: Understanding the connection and managing sym-ptoms. Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 85(12), 6057-6066. https://doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000001441
Fernandes, J. B., Fernandes, S., Domingos, J., Castro, C., Romão, A., Graúdo, S., ... & Godinho, C. (2024). Motivational strategies used by health care professionals in stroke survivors in rehabilitation: a scoping review of experimental studies. Frontiers in Medicine, 11, 1384414. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1384414
Gencer, G. Y. G., Aksu, N. T., Teke, Y., Hekim, H. H., & Akdağ, A. (2025). Relationship Between Commu-nity Integration, Physical Activity, Pain Quality, and Quality of Life in Older Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 1(aop), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2023-0452
Goff, A. J., Jones, L. E., Lim, C. J., & Tan, B. Y. (2024). A cross sectional study exploring the relationship of self-reported physical activity with function, kinesiophobia, self-efficacy and quality of life in an Asian population seeking care for knee osteoarthritis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 25(1), 74. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-07181-y
Hu, W., Chu, J., Chen, X., Liu, S., Sun, N., Han, Q., ... & Shen, Y. (2022). The role of depression and physi-cal activity in the association of between sleep quality, and duration with and health-related quality of life among the elderly: a UK Biobank cross-sectional study. BMC geriatrics, 22(1), 338. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03047-x
Infeld, M., Wahlberg, K., Cicero, J., Plante, T. B., Meagher, S., Novelli, A., ... & Meyer, M. (2023). Effect of personalized accelerated pacing on quality of life, physical activity, and atrial fibrillation in pa-tients with preclinical and overt heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: the myPACE randomized clinical trial. JAMA cardiology, 8(3), 213-221. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2022.5320
Katsura, Y., Ohga, S., Shimo, K., Hattori, T., Yamada, T., & Matsubara, T. (2024). A decision tree algo-rithm to identify predictors of post-stroke complex regional pain syndrome. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 9893. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60597-3
Lin, S., Xiao, L. D., Chamberlain, D., Ullah, S., Wang, Y., Shen, Y., ... & Wu, M. (2022). Nurse-led health coaching programme to improve hospital-to-home transitional care for stroke survivors: A randomised controlled trial. Patient Education and Counseling, 105(4), 917-925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2021.07.020
Liu, X. Y., Peng, S. Z., Pei, M. Y., & Zhang, P. (2023). The effects of physical activity on depression and quality of life in Chinese perimenopausal women. Journal of Affective Disorders, 328, 153-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.061
Mahmood, W., Ahmed Burq, H. S. I., Ehsan, S., Sagheer, B., & Mahmood, T. (2022). Effect of core stabili-zation exercises in addition to conventional therapy in improving trunk mobility, function, am-bulation and quality of life in stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Sports Scien-ce, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 14(1), 62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-022-00452-y
Nayak, P., Kumaran, S. D., Mahmood, A., Natarajan, M., Unnikrishnan, B., & Solomon, J. M. (2025). Ef-fectiveness of a comprehensive physical activity promotion program on physical activity levels, mobility and quality of life in community-dwelling stroke survivors: a preliminary cluster ran-domised controlled trial. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2025.2459342
Nguyen, B., Clare, P., Mielke, G. I., Brown, W. J., & Ding, D. (2024). Physical activity across midlife and health-related quality of life in Australian women: A target trial emulation using a longitudinal cohort. Plos Medicine, 21(5), e1004384. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004384
Nindorera, F., Nduwimana, I., Thonnard, J. L., & Kossi, O. (2022). Effectiveness of walking training on balance, motor functions, activity, participation and quality of life in people with chronic stro-ke: a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression of recent randomized contro-lled trials. Disability and rehabilitation, 44(15), 3760-3771. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2021.1894247
Noguer, M., Berthon, P., Makowski, C., & Messonnier, L. A. (2025). Impaired physical ability in patients with transfusion‐dependent β‐thalassaemia: Can regular physical activity be a countermeas-ure?. British Journal of Haematology, 206(1), 86-93. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.19847
Omarov, B., Omarov, B., Rakhymzhanov, A., Niyazov, A., Sultan, D., & Baikuvekov, M. (2024). Develop-ment of an artificial intelligence-enabled non-invasive digital stethoscope for monitoring the heart condition of athletes in real-time. Retos, 60, 1169–1180. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v60.108633
Omarov, N., Omarov, B., Azhibekova, Z., & Omarov, B. (2024). Applying an augmented reality game-based learning environment in physical education classes to enhance sports motivation. Retos, 60, 269–278. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v60.109170
Omarov, B., Zhumanov, Z., Gumar, A., & Kuntunova, L. (2023). Artificial intelligence enabled mobile chatbot psychologist using AIML and cognitive behavioral therapy. International Journal of Ad-vanced Computer Science and Applications, 14(6). http://dx.doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2023.0140616
Odetunde, M. O., Makinde, A. F., Jimoh, O. M., Mbada, C. E., Niyi-Odumosu, F., & Fatoye, F. (2025). Phy-sical activity, fatigue severity, and health-related quality of life of community-dwelling stroke survivors: a cross-sectional study. Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy, 30(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43161-025-00267-1
Palermi, A., Molinari, L. V., Ricci, F., Gallina, S., & Renda, G. (2025). Practical Guidance for Management of Atrial Fibrillation in Sports Cardiology. Current Problems in Cardiology, 102995. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102995
Pastore, M. C., Cavigli, L., Olivoni, G., Morrone, F., Amati, F., Imbalzano, E., ... & Cameli, M. (2024). Phy-sical exercise in hypertensive heart disease: From the differential diagnosis to the complemen-tary role of exercise. International Journal of Cardiology, 132232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2024.132232
Peltonen, J., Benson, S., Kraushaar, J., Wunder, S., & Mang, C. (2025). Stroke survivors with limited walking ability have unique barriers and facilitators to physical activity. Disability and Rehabi-litation, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2025.2453639
Perry, A. S., Dooley, E. E., Master, H., Spartano, N. L., Brittain, E. L., & Pettee Gabriel, K. (2023). Physical activity over the lifecourse and cardiovascular disease. Circulation research, 132(12), 1725-1740. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.322121
Pikula, A., Gulati, M., Bonnet, J. P., Ibrahim, S., Chamoun, S., Freeman, A. M., & Reddy, K. (2024). Promi-se of lifestyle medicine for heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular diseases. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes, 8(2), 151-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2023.11.005
Pouliopoulou, D. V., Macdermid, J. C., Saunders, E., Peters, S., Brunton, L., Miller, E., ... & Bobos, P. (2023). Rehabilitation interventions for physical capacity and quality of life in adults with post–COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA network open, 6(9), e2333838-e2333838. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.33838
Rahman, M. S., Adams, J., Peng, W., & Sibbritt, D. (2024). A longitudinal investigation of the determi-nants of stroke survivors’ utilisation of a healthy lifestyle for stroke rehabilitation in Australia. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 26625. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78069-z
Romero, L. G., González, M. C., & Rojas-Ruiz, F. J. (2025). Physical Activity in Lower-Extremity Sarcoma Survivors: Specific Recommendations and Program Design. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 1(aop), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0745
Samuel, P. O., Edo, G. I., Emakpor, O. L., Oloni, G. O., Ezekiel, G. O., Essaghah, A. E. A., ... & Agbo, J. J. (2024). Lifestyle modifications for preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases. Sport Sciences for Health, 20(1), 23-36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-023-01118-z
Sulistyana, C. S., Nugraha, A. B. K., Saputra, Y. D., & Dewi, R. C. (2025, January). Physical Exercise on Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Literature Review. In International Semi-nar of Sport and Exercise Science (ISSES 2024) (pp. 91-97). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-593-5_8
Susts, J., Reinholdsson, M., Sunnerhagen, K. S., & Abzhandadze, T. (2023). Physical inactivity before stroke is associated with dependency in basic activities of daily living 3 months after stroke. Frontiers in neurology, 14, 1094232. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1094232
Viktorisson, A., Andersson, E. M., Lundström, E., & Sunnerhagen, K. S. (2021). Levels of physical activi-ty before and after stroke in relation to early cognitive function. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 9078. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88606-9
Volterrani, M., Halasz, G., Adamopoulos, S., Agostoni, P. G., Butler, J., Coats, A. J., ... & Piepoli, M. (2025). Quality of life in heart failure. The heart of the matter. A scientific statement of the Heart Failu-re Association and the European Association of Preventive Cardiology of the European Society of Cardiology. European Journal of Heart Failure. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.3440
Wang, H., Tian, M., Lai, Q., Li, W., Ding, H., & Deng, Z. (2025). Association between leisure-time physical activity and stroke in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A population-based study. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 34(1), 108162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2024.108162
Wong, M. Y. C., Ou, K. L., Chung, P. K., Chui, K. Y. K., & Zhang, C. Q. (2023). The relationship between physical activity, physical health, and mental health among older Chinese adults: A scoping re-view. Frontiers in public health, 10, 914548. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.914548
Yang, Y., Wang, K., Liu, H., Qu, J., Wang, Y., Chen, P., ... & Luo, J. (2022). The impact of Otago exercise programme on the prevention of falls in older adult: A systematic review. Frontiers in public health, 10, 953593. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.953593
Yunus, M., Aditya, R. S., Ihsan, N., Jamil, M., Darmawan, A. ., Sulistyorini, A., … Almutairi, R. I. (2024). Realizo actividad física mientras opero una silla de ruedas: una revisión sistemática de pacien-tes con acv (I engage in physical activity while operating a wheelchair.: a systematic review of stroke patients). Retos, 56, 744–750. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v56.103755
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Satmyrza Mamikov, Zhanseri Ikram

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
- Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).
This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.