Long-term combined “new sports” and resistance exercise improves the physical and mental health of elderly people with stroke-associated hemiplegia: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Hemiplegia, a common consequence of stroke, significantly impacts daily life by causing muscle weakness, impaired balance, and reduced mobility, often leading to mental health issues such as depression. The combined new sports and resistance exercise program aims to enhance both physical fitness and social interaction. We hypothesized that the combined exercise program would improve the participants’ physical and mental health better than resistance exercise alone. Methods: In this study, we examined the effects of 24 weeks of a combined new sports and resistance exercise program on the physical and mental health of elderly people with hemiplegia. Thirty elderly people aged 65–74 years with hemiplegia were randomly divided into combined new sports and resistance exercise (NS+RE), resistance exercise (RE), and control groups. Indicators of physical health (range of motion [ROM], Berg Balance Scale [BBS], Functional Gait Assessment, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) and mental health (Grooved Pegboard Test [GPT], Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS], Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale [RSES], and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life [SS-QOL]) were measured before and at 8, 16, and 24 weeks of exercise training. Results: Compared with the RE and control groups, the NS+RE group showed significant improvements in ROM, RSES, and SS-QOL starting at 8 weeks, GPT starting at 16 weeks, and BBS and GDS at 24 weeks. Conclusions: We conclude that combined new sports and resistance exercise was more effective than resistance exercise alone in terms of improving the physical and mental health of elderly people with hemiplegia. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating new sports into rehabilitation strategies and sustaining long-term exercise for lasting benefits. Trial registration: We retrospectively registered the study with the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) of the Republic of Korea, an entity approved by the World Health Organization (registration number KCT0008524, registration date 15/06/2023).