MONDAY, September 1, (News Locale) - Patients who suffer strokes have impaired mobility as a result of damage to the brain. A new study is now saying stroke survivors may improve their walking ability significantly by exercising on a treadmill.

Researchers at the University of Maryland and Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center recruited 71 people who had suffered a stroke at least 4 years prior to the study. The average age of the participants was 63 years. Among them 37 people were using treadmill at least three times a week. The remaining 34 stroke survivors were given stretching exercise routines.

The researchers report the patients began the treadmill routine at least 50 months after they suffered a stroke. After six months of following the exercise regimen given by the researchers, it was noted treadmill users had a 51 percent improvement in walking speed as compared to 11 percent in the stretching group.

Furthermore brain scans of patients showed improved activity in cerebellum and midbrain of the treadmill users as compared to little of no activity in the brains of the stretching group. These areas of the brain control gait and walking abilities in people.

The details of the study are published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

A stroke is a cerebrovascular event that disrupts the blood supply to the brain. Such patients have impairs speech, impaired gait and may suffer certain amount of paralysis depending on the intensity of the stroke. Rehabilitation programs include moderate exercise, but as the above study suggests, using treadmill may help the brain recover to some extent.