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Since my stroke, I’ve often joked with people that I feel like I’m solar-powered.
From my earliest days at inpatient rehab to today — now four years after stroke — simply being outside for exercise or any other activity has boosted my energy and mood.
It’s been one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned after stroke — spending more time outside can significantly enhance your overall well-being and improve recovery.
How the Outdoors Became My Gym
Once I returned home from the hospital and rehab center, all I wanted to do was get back in the gym and start rebuilding my stroke-affected left side.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t drive myself anywhere, I had a significant limp as I shuffled around the neighborhood, and simply being in a crowded gym felt overwhelming at times because of all the noise and commotion.
Since getting back to the gym was a challenge, I made it a goal just to be active outdoors every day, whether that meant walking, completing my physical therapy routine outside, or participating in any other activity.
Over time, I realized that I felt significantly better exercising outdoors than I did inside. I had more energy during my workouts, and I oftentimes felt less disappointed in my progress in recovery.
Today, I no longer have a gym membership. I prefer to take a set of gymnastic rings to the local park for a workout, and I’ll only think about visiting a gym when it’s too bitterly cold to be outside.
Otherwise, finding ways to exercise outdoors has proven to be much more effective for me in recovery after stroke.
The Benefits of Outdoor Exercise After Stroke
As I came to love exercising outdoors in the years after stroke, I was surprised to find that research has shown that outdoor exercise can often feel less demanding than an indoor workout.
One study found that people walked faster outdoors even though they reported it felt less challenging than a walk inside.
Additionally, studies indicate that spending time outdoors can improve cognitive function, but exercising outdoors might lead to enhanced cognitive benefits.
For example, one study reported that individuals performed better on cognitive tests when they walked outdoors compared to walking indoors.
The authors of the study wrote the following about their findings:
“In a world where many people “hit the gym” before or after work or on their lunch break, our results suggest that these people would be better served by simply “getting outside”.
In a world where many people “hit the gym” before or after work or on their lunch break, our results suggest that these people would be better served by simply “getting outside.”
Sunlight: A Remedy for Depression After Stroke
Beyond the potential physical benefits that come from exercising outdoors, spending time outside can also improve your mood after stroke.
In his book, The Brain’s Way of Healing, Norman Doidge looks back thousands of years and describes how ancient Greek doctors believed depression could potentially be eased by spending more time outside.
Doidge specifically cites one Greek physician who wrote: “Lethargics are to be laid out in the light and exposed to the rays of the sun, for the disease is gloom.”
Lethargics are to be laid out in the light and exposed to the rays of the sun, for the disease is gloom.
That quote stuck with me because it perfectly described my early stroke experiences after I returned home from rehab.
When I’d find myself exhausted just trying to walk to the mailbox, I’d often sit outside and enjoy the warmth of the sun on my stroke-affected side, which has forever felt numb.
Like many other stroke survivors, I’ve often been discouraged at my slow recovery at times, wishing I’d be “back to normal” fast.
However, spending time outside on sunny days has helped alleviate some of the disappointment that comes with stroke recovery, just as the ancient Greeks suggested sunlight might help.
Any Outdoor Activity Can Help Stroke Survivors
I’m not alone in my love for the outdoors and the benefits it can bring in stroke recovery.
Leota Sarrette publishes Lala’s Life After Stroke on Substack and she has shared how her experiences with gardening and forest bathing have supported her recovery after stroke.
Leota writes the following about the impact of her garden:
“In the beginning, the garden was a project. A distraction. Something I could do with my hands when my brain felt too heavy and my heart felt too full.
I would go out there, pull weeds, water plants, and try to forget for a little while that everything felt out of my control. But slowly, without even realizing it, that little patch of earth became my sanctuary.”
Slowly, without even realizing it, that little patch of earth became my sanctuary.
In another post, Leota describes her experiences with forest bathing, which is a practice of spending more time in nature:
“I want to share something that changed everything for me,” she writes. “It’s simple, beautiful, and accessible. It’s called forest bathing.”
“And the best part? It doesn’t demand anything from you. You don’t need a perfect forest, hours of time, or even a plan. All you need is a little bit of nature and a willingness to pause. Whether you have a sprawling park, a quiet backyard, or just a porch surrounded by a few plants, forest bathing can offer you healing in ways you may not expect.”
I’ve greatly enjoyed exercising outdoors after my stroke, but other hobbies like gardening, as Leota suggests, are a great way for stroke survivors to be active outdoors.
Take Physical Therapy for Stroke Recovery Outdoors
During my stay at inpatient rehab, I lamented how I was stuck inside all day.
Thankfully, for some of my rehab exercises, I was able to go outside and work with a therapist on simple activities like stepping up onto a curb.
While I greatly enjoyed the time outdoors, it probably wasn’t as fun for the therapist since it was pushing 90 degrees in the middle of the summer.
However, once I returned home, I made it a point to spend more time outdoors, and it’s made a huge impact on my recovery.
Simple things like taking a walk, spending time in the morning sitting outside, and working on physical therapy exercises outdoors, can all support stroke survivors in their recovery.
If you’re anything like me, moving your activities outdoors might make you feel like you’re solar-powered, giving you a boost in energy and improving your recovery after stroke.
Stroke Recovery Rehab 