Singapore – After suffering a stroke in 2017, Maya Thea took hours to complete tasks like climbing stairs.
A hemorrhagic stroke, or a stroke with bleeding in the brain, resulted in brain fog, muscle weakness on the right side of the body, and affected his ability to communicate.
But Shea, who used to jog and practice yoga before her stroke, has recently become more active.
She started dragon boating in 2023 and started going to the gym about a month ago, and these activities are helping her recovery process.
The 44-year-old is one of several stroke survivors who shared their experiences using ActiveSG gyms and swimming pools as part of a pilot training program launched in October by the Singapore National Stroke Association (SNSA) and Singapore University of Technology. It was.
The program was established to create a more inclusive environment at ActiveSG facilities by equipping fitness professionals with the skills to better support stroke survivors and people with disabilities, in line with the Disability Sports Master Plan 2024. It was done.
According to SNSA President Associate Professor Shyamala Thirarajah, years of research with stroke survivors and exercise professionals shows that while the former want to be healthy, the latter want to keep people with disabilities in the gym. It turns out they want to learn more about how they can help.
“The next part of that is building an ecosystem and infrastructure to enable communication between hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and gyms,” added Professor Thirarajah, Principal Physiotherapist at Singapore General Hospital.
Studies show stroke survivors seek assistance because their arms and legs are weak, making it difficult to adjust the height of equipment or slide a chair forward while maintaining balance. It was also revealed.
“That kind of assistance was available in some gyms, but not in all gyms, so we wanted to make sure there was assistance everywhere and people were aware and trained,” Tirarajah said. the professor said.
The workshops held in October and November brought together experts from various fields.
Among them are fitness instructors from Sport Singapore, physiotherapists from SGH, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National University Hospital, Changi General Hospital, Singapore Physiotherapy Association, and Stroke Support Station, and physical therapists from Sport Singapore who make exercise part of disease prevention. One Exercise is Medicine Singapore doctor included. And treatment.
They were trained in specific techniques, including communication, safety considerations, and how to adapt practice to individuals with different abilities. A practical session was also held to provide practical support for stroke survivors.
Caregivers such as Ms. Shi’s husband, Melvin Yeh, feel that such programs can help alleviate anxiety.
A 45-year-old man who works in the administration added, “She still has to go somewhere to continue her activities, but I’m worried about who will help her.”
“Knowing that this equipment (and support) is available may make it easier for her to use it.”
Although exercise was fun for Shi, interacting with other gym-goers was complicated. Some are helpful, while others are frustrating because they take longer than others to complete a set.
She recalled an unpleasant experience when someone glared at her and constantly looked at the clock to express irritation.
Shea said: “I try to ignore[them]…Most of them are nicer. Some are students, some are elderly. They offer to help.” he said.
Katherine Lee, who suffered an ischemic stroke in 2020 due to reduced blood flow to parts of the brain due to a blood clot in an artery, believes such programs encourage stroke survivors to stay active. There is.
The 65-year-old, who has weak finger grip and only about 70 percent function in her left arm, insisted on using equipment such as a treadmill and the Harmachine, which uses air pressure instead of body weight. injury.
“We have to move around and exercise all the time,” said the maritime sales manager, who required a wheelchair and cane for several months after the stroke.
“When I was sick with the flu and COVID-19, I noticed that there were days when I was so tired that I couldn’t exercise for almost two weeks. I felt everything stiffen up.”
National Stroke Association of Singapore president Shyamala Tilarajah (second from left) teaches ActiveSG instructor Victor Ng (right) how to support stroke survivors on a stationary bike at the Enabling Village ActiveSG Gym in Lengkok Baru. Masu. With them are stroke survivors Maya Thea (left) and Katherine Lee.Photo: Gavin Hu
Through this program, ActiveSG Senior Fitness Instructor Victor Ng learned how to provide appropriate support to stroke survivors in the gym.
He remembers not knowing how to help a gym-goer who had slurred speech, but now uses gestures and simple “yes” or “no” answers. I can now ask questions.
Other useful techniques the 51-year-old has learned include knowing how to release clenched fists caused by spasticity and, in some cases, muscle contractures.
He said, “As fitness instructors, we have no idea how to engage these people, but when we took this course, we learned a lot of different ways to do so.” said.
- Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times as a sports journalist in 2019 and has since covered a wide range of sports, including golf and sailing.
participate ST Telegram Channel We bring you the latest breaking news.
