12 Fun and Effective Activities for Stroke Patients to Help Recover at Home (with expert tips)

Having a stroke is a life-changing event which can happen to anyone.  The symptoms can vary between one person and the other but commonly include physical, cognitive and emotional changes.

Stroke recovery depends on activity choice and its influence on neuroplasticity. Put simply, neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change its structure and function in response to new experiences or challenges.

It is adaptive and moldable and can be harnessed to maximize recovery through specific activities for stroke patients.

If left alone, the brain and nervous system will not recover to their full potential.

By choosing the most appropriate activities and staying dedicated to your recovery, you will optimize the neuroplasticity taking place.

This article will guide you towards some of the best activities for stroke patients which address the physical, cognitive and emotional elements of recovery. 

We’ll also advise on some of the most innovative tools on the market today such as Soundsory® and Forbrain® to support your ongoing recovery.

Stroke Specialist Occupational Therapist, Sue Caine, explains what neuroplasticity is:

“Your brain is a complex network of connections. A stroke can damage some of these connections, leading to difficulties with movement, speech, or other functions.

Neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to reroute these connections, forming new pathways and restoring function. It’s like your brain finding a detour around a roadblock.”

12 Fun Activities for Stroke Patients to Do at Home

Now we move on to our list of recommended activities for stroke patients.  

The activities are in a table and grouped by symptom type to make it easy for you to follow. 

You’ll also find the reasoning behind each exercise and the science that supports them. 

Physical Symptoms

Activity	Description	Reasons/Benefits
Handwriting	Practice handwriting	Handwriting is functional and useful. It’s also a great way to improve your ‘tripod’ and ‘pincer’ grip and strengthen your hand and arm muscles.
Opening and closing jars	Practice opening and closing jars. This can be made easier or harder by the size of the lid and how tightly they are fastened. You could wear rubber gloves to assist with your grip.	This activity helps improve your power grip. It’s a very practical exercise and helps strengthen the muscles that both stabilize and move in your upper limb.
Soundsory® exercises	Soundsory® has a wide range of exercises which effectively work at improving the physical symptoms of a stroke. Try these three for starters: Scissor Fingers Finger Agility Flip Flop	Soundsory® is already making a huge difference to stroke patients. Erin’s story of how Soundsory® has helped her son Colby is an inspiration.
Pedals	Using pedals or a static bike at home is an inexpensive way of working on your recovery.Begin slowly and do not overexert yourself. If you have any questions about beginning cardiovascular exercise after a stroke, then you should consult your doctor.	Static cycling is a safer way of working on both strengthening and heart health when compared to road cycling. Cardiovascular fitness is strongly linked with reducing your risk of further stroke [1] and enhances neuroplasticity [2], which is essential for recovery.

Sensory & Cognitive Symptoms

Activity	Description	Reasons/Benefits
Gardening	Depending on your level of ability you could get a full body activity by weeding and digging, or simply handling the soil and planting seeds is fantastic for sensory recovery. One-handed gardening activities are still a wonderful form of rehabilitation.	Gardening has been recognized as a valuable therapeutic activity that can significantly aid stroke recovery. [3]Engaging in gardening offers a range of physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits that contribute to the rehabilitation process.
Tai Chi	Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that involves slow and controlled body movements. It can be both physically challenging and mentally relaxing.	Tai Chi is often incorporated into formal therapy programs because of its whole-body connection. It increases body awareness, which is vital for neuroplasticity and recovery. Tai Chi practice enhances motor function and independence in stroke patients [4]
Board Games	There is a wide range of board games that suit all levels of ability. Some are more complicated than others and can be played with those with cognitive difficulties. Games with simple rules can be just as much fun and add a social element to recovery.	Playing board games is a great form of mental stimulation and can aid cognitive recovery after stroke.
Puzzles	Crosswords, wordsearches, jigsaws, sudoku are all great examples of puzzles which can assist cognitive training.	Puzzles can be entertaining, challenging, and rewarding. They help attention-span, problem-solving, and mental acuity.

Emotional & Social Difficulties

Activity	Description	Reasons/Benefits
Outdoor walking	Head outdoors for a wide range of benefits. The change of scenery can be uplifting and a great mental health boost. You can still get many of the benefits of being outdoors even if you have difficulty walking. There are many outdoor walking aids available, as well as ramps and wheelchairs for those unable to walk.	Social isolation can be a significant problem for stroke survivors [5]. Accessing the outdoors can provide better social opportunities, and emotional wellbeing. There’s also a bonus of fresh air and vitamin D. There is some evidence to suggest that vitamin D deficiency can be associated with an increased risk of stroke. [6]
Reading	Reading for pleasure and for therapy. If reading is difficult because of visual problems arising from your stroke, then you could always listen to an audiobook.	Reading has been shown to stimulate pathways in the brain and can help improve concentration and attention. [7] To enhance this further try reading aloud and using the patented Forbrain® technology to support neuroplasticity. Forbrain® works by stimulating the areas of the brain responsible for attention, memory, language. This can establish new neural pathways and improve cognitive rehabilitation. [8]
Hobbies	Returning to what you love after a stroke is uplifting and stimulating. You may need to consider some adaptations if you have new symptoms from the stroke but there are many ways to still enjoy your hobbies.	Engaging in activities you already enjoy further enhances the neuroplasticity of recovery and accesses pre existing nerve pathways. The social boost of shared hobbies can also help with your mood and motivation.
Meditation	Meditation can be done in many ways and isn’t just limited to sitting cross-legged on the floor like some people may think. There are many wonderful resources out there that offer free information and guided meditations.	Meditation helps reduce stress and worry which are common after a stroke. It can also help you focus and improve your concentration. Not only that but meditation is linked to a lower rate of cardiovascular disease [9], which is the main cause of stroke.

Final Thoughts: Activities for Stroke Patients at Home

Recovery from stroke is an ongoing process. A stroke can cause a wide range of symptoms, and you may experience physical, cognitive and emotional changes.

Neuroplasticity is the adaptive changes which take place in the nervous system and can be positively influenced to optimize stroke recovery. Consistently engaging in the correct activities will give you the best chance of recovery from stroke. That being said, it’s not always possible to make a total recovery from a stroke. 

A certain percentage of survivors will make a complete recovery, so it’s vital that you give yourself the best possible odds by being proactive and engaged in your recovery process. 

“Taking care of yourself holistically will give you the best chance of recovery.  By that I mean making sure you’re eating well, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and looking after your emotional and social needs too.”

• Hannah Thompson, Stroke Specialist Occupational Therapist, UK.

FAQs About Activities for Stroke Patients at Home

Can I keep doing my usual activities after a stroke?

A stroke can often cause symptoms which reduce your ability to do your usual activities. However, it can be helpful to try and do the things you enjoy even if they must be done with some adaptation or modifications.

Our guide on what to do at home after a stroke offers some fantastic insights into how to adapt your home and how to get the best out of your rehabilitation.

What are one-handed activities for stroke patients?

Even if you have a reduced ability to use one arm following a stroke it’s still important to perform activities which are beneficial and enjoyable.

Coloring books, jigsaws, and writing are all helpful one-handed activities.

The Soundsory® program and patented device provides some great options for one-handed activities.

Here are just some of the activities from the Soundsory® library which can be done with one hand:

• Scissor Fingers
• Finger Agility
• Flip Flop

What is the best exercise after a stroke?

There is no single best exercise to do after a stroke. As every stroke presents with a unique combination of symptoms, you should seek input from neurological specialist therapists to find the exercises that will work best for you.

You will get the best results if you fully engage with your treatment program and stay consistent with your rehabilitation.

Soundsory® can be used alongside traditional therapies to help enhance your recovery. Additionally, the scientifically-backed [10] technology of Forbrain® can enhance attention and cognition, which are essential to stroke recovery. 

Read our article on stroke supportive therapy to learn more about the vital role of therapy in your stroke recovery. 

References

1.  Kleindorfer, D. O., Towfighi, A., Chaturvedi, S., Cockroft, K. M., Gutierrez, J., Lombardi-Hill, D., Kamel, H., Kernan, W. N., Kittner, S. J., Leira, E. C., Lennon, O., Meschia, J. F., Nguyen, T. N., Pollak, P. M., Santangeli, P., Sharrief, A. Z., Smith, S. C., Jr, Turan, T. N., & Williams, L. S. (2021). 2021 Guideline for the Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Guideline From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke, 52(7), e364–e467. https://doi.org/10.1161/STR.0000000000000375

2.  Pickersgill, J. W., Turco, C. V., Ramdeo, K., Rehsi, R. S., Foglia, S. D., & Nelson, A. J. (2022). The Combined Influences of Exercise, Diet and Sleep on Neuroplasticity. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 831819. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.831819

3.  Barello, S., Graffigna, G., Menichetti, J., Sozzi, M., Savarese, M., Bosio, A. C., & Corbo, M. (2016). The value of a therapeutic gardening intervention for post-stroke patients’ engagement during rehabilitation: An exploratory qualitative study. Journal of Participatory Medicine. Retrieved from https://participatorymedicine.org/journal/evidence/research/2016/06/21/the-value-of-a-therapeutic-gardening-intervention-for-post-stroke-patients-engagement-during-rehabilitation-an-exploratory-qualitative-study/

4.  García-Muñoz, C., González-García, P., Casuso-Holgado, M. J., Martínez-Calderón, J., & Heredia-Rizo, A. M. (2023). Are movement-based mindful exercises (QIGONG, TAI CHI, AND YOGA) beneficial for stroke and Parkinson’s disease? A scoping review. Complementary therapies in medicine, 72, 102912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102912

5.  Shi, Y., Fong, M. W. M., Metts, C. L., LaVela, S. L., Bombardier, C., Hu, L., & Wong, A. W. K. (2024). Dynamics of Perceived Social Isolation, Secondary Conditions, and Daily Activity Patterns Among Individuals With Stroke: A Network Analysis of Ecological Momentary Assessment Data. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 105(7), 1314–1321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2024.02.733

6.  Kim, M. S., Lee, J. S., Chung, S. J., & Soh, Y. (2023). Association between Vitamin D and Short-Term Functional Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke. Nutrients, 15(23), 4957. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15234957

7.  Harvard Medical School. (2016). The reading brain. Retrieved from https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/reading-brain

8.  Shuxing, et al. (2017). Nursing effect of Forbrain® brain cognitive training on cognitive dysfunction among patients with stroke. Medicine and Philosophy, 38(6B), [Total No. 575]. Retrieved from https://blog.forbrain.com/blog/research-study-effect-of-forbrain-training-stroke-patients

9.  Krittanawong, C., Kumar, A., Wang, Z., Narasimhan, B., Jneid, H., Virani, S. S., & Levine, G. N. (2020). Meditation and Cardiovascular Health in the US. The American journal of cardiology, 131, 23–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2020.06.043

10. Li, S., Sun, J., Sun, D., & Chen, C. (2017). Nursing effect of Forbrain® brain cognitive training on cognitive dysfunction among patients with stroke. Medicine and Philosophy, 38(6B), 35–38. https://doi.org/10.12014/j.issn.1002-0772.2017.06b.10