Perceived recovery as a predictor of physical activity participation after mild stroke

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify what acute care variables and/or perceived recovery factors could predict decreased participation in physical activities post-mild stroke. Methods: Secondary analysis of persons with mild stroke. Participants were split into two groups based on the percentage of high-demand leisure (HDL) activities retained on the Activity Card Sort (ACS) at 6 months post-stroke. Demographic variables, measures from the acute care setting (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), premorbid Barthel Index, and Modified Rankin Scale), and a perceived recovery measure collected at 6 months post-stroke (Stroke Impact Scale (SIS)) were analyzed between groups using independent samples t-tests and logistic regression. Results: There were no significant differences between groups on any of the demographic or acute care setting measures. Logistic regression indicated that only the overall perceived recovery (p = 0.05) and strength domain scores (p = 0.01) of the SIS were statistically significant factors for determining the percent of retained HDL activities following mild stroke. Conclusions: Clinicians must consider the clients’ own perceived recovery level and other more subjective factors in determining what barriers are limiting their physical activity participation after stroke.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Persons with mild stroke are significantly decreasing their participation in physical activities post-stroke.

• Common stroke measures from the acute care setting that are currently used in practice are not sensitive enough to predict the changes in physical activity after mild stroke.

• Perceived level of recovery/limitations should be considered by clinicians in determining what barriers are affecting clients’ physical activity participation after stroke.

Keywords::

• Exercise
• mild stroke
• participation
• perceived recovery
• physical activity

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the faculty, staff, and students in the Cognitive Rehabilitation Research Group at Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine.

Declaration of Interest: The author reports no declaration of interest. This study was funded by the James S. McDonnell Foundation (Grant 220020087, Carolyn Baum, PI).