Nature-based Therapies in Stroke Rehabilitation

Inward stroke rehabilitation patients are selected randomly into two groups: intervention and control groups in proportions 1-2:1. Blood samples and microbiome samples of saliva, skin and feces are taken from all patients prior to interventions. These are controlled after 4 weeks from the beginning of the study and 3 months after signing-off the ward. Questionnaires eg on moods, life quality and function deficits are conducted in the beginning of the study, after 4 weeks from the start and 3 months after signing-off. Physiological measurements will be done to observe autonomic nerve status. The interventions consisting of therapy sessions in the hospital nearby nature will be conducted thrice a week one of them being an individual nature-visit with the research worker, one in group and one with family-member or volunteer. The moods and quality of life of the family-member participating in the study will also be followed up. The control group is advised to do simple, more conventional rehabilitative tasks indoors.

Inclusion criteria

• Acute/Subacute stroke
• Rehabilitation ward patient

Exclusion criteria

• Incapable of independent decision making
• Traumatic bleeding in brain tissue
• Severe aphasia
• Severe, malign ongoing disease