“I used to cry like a baby,” said Abdillahi Said Mohammed. After suffering a stroke, Mr Mohammed’s life was severely disrupted.
“I was desperate to receive support to help ease or eradicate the severe pain from moving a limb,” he said.
Luckily, a scheme run by the Council stepped in. Mr Mohammed says the effect was transformative. He regained his strength, and felt much happier. “It provided me with an opportunity to leave my flat and speak to someone apart from my carer,” he said.
Fit 4 Health is a fitness programme for stroke sufferers. Through classes in Britannia Leisure Centre and Clissold Leisure Centre, it aims to help them get back to good health and deal with the mental health problems strokes can bring.
The Council says since the scheme started in 2010, participants have reported a range of health benefits. Mr Mohammed said: “I used to be shaky and unconfident. It helped me develop my core strength.”
Every session includes a warm-up, cardiovascular exercise, light resistance exercises, a cool down and an opportunity to socialise afterwards.
Mervyn Diese joined the scheme after he suffered a brain aneurysm in May 2011. “I found it very helpful and laughed a lot, mainly due to my lack of balance and coordination as an effect of my stroke,” he said.
His aneurysm ended in him having life-saving surgery and a prolonged period of rehabilitation. Mr Diese does not remember any of the early stages of his care. It is only from photographs and friends’ accounts that he can tell the story.
“Suffering the aneurysm was a wake-up call, it made me reflect on my life and forced me to slow down and change the way I do things,” he said.
The Stroke Association said: “Exercise can reduce your risk of having a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Just 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week can reduce your risk of stroke by over 25%.” The charity recommends speaking to your GP before exercising after a stroke or TIA.
NHS moodzone, the online mental health advisory, said: “Physical activity can help people with mild depression. Evidence shows it can also help protect people against anxiety.”
“Physical activity is thought to cause chemical changes in the brain, which can help to positively change our mood.”
