ABSTRACT
Stroke is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a clinical syndrome consisting of 'rapidly developing clinical signs of focal disturbance of cerebral function, lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death with no apparent cause other than that of vascular origin'. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) stroke rehabilitation guidelines require in-patient assessment by all members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) within seventy two hours and to have agreed goals documented within five days. Chronic inactivity related to stroke has a multitude of physiological consequences that result in cardiovascular deconditioning, increased cardiovascular risk, and increased mortality and morbidity risk. Exercise training is a potent stimulus for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and associated physiological outcomes in stroke populations. Stretching activities are movements applied by an external and/or internal force in order to increase muscle flexibility and/or joint range of motion. Stretching activities include static stretching, dynamic stretching, active stretching, slow movements, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF).
