Physical inactivity post-stroke: a 3-year longitudinal study

Abstract

Purpose: To explore change in activity levels post-stroke. Methods: We measured activity levels using the activPAL™ in hospital and at 1, 2 and 3 years’ post-stroke onset. Results: 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 n = 15); time spent sitting/lying decreased (p = 0.001); time spent standing, walking and number of steps increased (p = 0.001, p = 0.028 and p = 0.03, respectively). At year 3, 18% of time was spent in standing and 9% walking. Time spent upright correlated significantly with Barthel (r = 0.69 on admission, r = 0.68 on discharge, both p < 0.01) and functional ambulation category scores (r = 0.55 on admission, 0.63 on discharge, both p < 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. Conclusion: 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.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Activity levels (measured using activPAL™ activity monitor), increased significantly by 1 year post-stroke but improvements slowed down at 2 and 3 years.

• People with stroke were inactive for the majority of their day in hospital and in the community.

• Poor activity levels correlated with physical and psychological measures.

• Larger studies are indicated to identify the most important predictors of activity levels.

• Activity levels
• standing
• stroke
• walking

Declaration of interest

The study was supported by a grant from The Stroke Association. The authors report no declarations of interest.