Physical inactivity post-stroke: a 3-year longitudinal study. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kunkel, Dorit; Fitton, Carolyn; Burnett, Malcolm; Ashburn, Ann
• Is Part Of: Disability and rehabilitation. Volume 37:Number 4(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 304
• Page End: 310
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: People with disabilities -- Periodicals; Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 617.03
• DOI: 10.3109/09638288.2014.918190
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-8288

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Purpose</italic>: To explore change in activity levels post-stroke. <italic>Methods</italic>: We measured activity levels using the activPAL™ in hospital and at 1, 2 and 3 years' post-stroke onset. <italic>Results</italic>: Of the 74 participants (mean age 76 (SD 11), 39 men), 61 were assessed in hospital: 94% of time was spent in sitting/lying, 4% standing and 2% walking. Activity levels improved over time (complete cases <italic>n</italic> = 15); time spent sitting/lying decreased (<italic>p</italic> = 0.001); time spent standing, walking and number of steps increased (<italic>p</italic> = 0.001, <italic>p</italic> = 0.028 and <italic>p</italic> = 0.03, respectively). At year 3, 18% of time was spent in standing and 9% walking. Time spent upright correlated significantly with Barthel (<italic>r</italic> = 0.69 on admission, <italic>r</italic> = 0.68 on discharge, both <italic>p</italic> < 0.01) and functional ambulation category scores (<italic>r</italic> = 0.55 on admission, 0.63 on discharge, both <italic>p</italic> < 0.05); correlations remained significant at all assessment points. Depression (in hospital), left hemisphere infarction (Years 1–2), visual neglect (Year 2), poor mobility and balance (Years 1–3) correlated with poorer activity levels. <italic>Conclusion</italic>: People with stroke were inactive for the majority of time. Time spent upright improved significantly by 1 year post-stroke; improvements slowed down thereafter. Poor activity levels correlated with physical and psychological measures. Larger studies are indicated to identify predictors of activity levels.<list list-type="bullet"><title>Implications for Rehabilitation</title><list-item><p>Activity levels (measured using activPAL™ activity monitor), increased significantly by 1 year post-stroke but improvements slowed down at 2 and 3 years.</p></list-item><list-item><p>People with stroke were inactive for the majority of their day in hospital and in the community.</p></list-item><list-item><p>Poor activity levels correlated with physical and psychological measures.</p></list-item><list-item><p>Larger studies are indicated to identify the most important predictors of activity levels.</p></list-item></list></p> </abstract>