Exercise the Mind and Brain. A Multimodal Intervention in Stroke

The proposed physical exercise intervention follows the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM, 2017) and the American Stroke Association (Billinger et al., 2014) recommendations for stroke patients. The five weekly 45-minute sessions are divided into (1) three sessions guided and supervised telematically by a physical exercise specialist and a physiotherapist; (2) and two autonomous exercise sessions. The supervised sessions include exercises to work aerobic capacity, muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, agility, and balance. The intensity of these exercises is prescribed individually according to each participant's initial level and are gradually increased as the program progresses. Participants are encouraged to walk at a similar intensity on autonomous physical exercise days as performed in the guided sessions (moderate intensity), based on the Borg scale of perceived exertion (Borg, 1982).

This intervention follows an adaptation of the scheme and instructions of the official Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program designed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It includes body scanning, sitting meditation, and gentle hatha yoga techniques. An accredited mindfulness instructor leads the 12-week online program, which comprises a presentation session, followed by eight intervention sessions (once a week, lasting 2.5 hours) and an intensive practice session interspersed between sessions six and seven. Apart from the supervised session, the therapist asks participants to carry out some independent practice daily.

An accredited neuropsychologist programs and supervises the computerized cognitive training through the Guttmann Neuropersonal Trainer (GNPT®) platform. The 12-week program consists of five sessions a week (45 minutes each) that include personalized activities planned to stimulate executive functioning, attention, processing speed, and memory.