A new study shows that simple exercises like playing cards or dominoes can help people recover faster from a stroke.
According to Medicalxpress, the results of the study, led by a team of scientists led by neurologist Dr. Gustavo Saposnik of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, were published Tuesday in the journal Lancet Neurology. The work is based on a clinical study carried out in 14 medical centers in four countries. Stroke survivors were divided into two groups. One group, in addition to traditional rehab therapy, received an additional 10 hour sessions of gaming on the Nintendo Wii. In another group, patients played cards and dominoes.
According to the results of the experiment, in the first group there was an improvement in motor activity by 30%, and in the second - by 40%. In terms of strength, dexterity, general motor skills and activities in daily life, according to Dr. Saposnik, there were no differences between the groups. “We all love technology and we tend to think that new technologies are better than old-fashioned strategies, but sometimes they are not. In this study, we found that simple recreational activities like cards and dominoes, which can be performed anywhere, can be as effective as technology,”said the study's author. Previously, virtual games were officially recognized as effective in the rehabilitation of patients after a stroke.
