Physical Activity Level of Ambulatory Stroke Patients and its Correlation with their Functional Abilities

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke management guidelines include physical activity recommendations as physical activity has proven benefits for stroke prevention and management. Studies from the various parts of the world have reported stroke survivors do not reach the recommended level of physical activity. Personal and environmental factors might be contributing to the same. A person’s ability is a prerequisite for being active. Thus, there is a need to evaluate the physical activity levels of stroke survivors and find how functional abilities correlate with physical activity. Aim: This study aims to measure objectively measured physical activity of stroke survivors and evaluate its correlation with functional abilities. Methodology: The study included 108 ambulatory stroke patients. Functional abilities were measured for independence in daily living, gait speed, and endurance by the Barthel Index, 10-m walk test, and 6-min walk test, respectively. Physical activity of all the participants was measured by accelerometer ActiGraph wGT3X-BT. Results: The study participants were found to spend higher time in sedentary or light activities. They spent 45.3% ± 5.432% of their day sedentary and 42.72% ± 5.494% of the time in light activities. The study participants took 7795.6 ± 2669.9 steps and spent 200.27 ± 68.60 kcal in a day. Physical activity parameters step counts and energy expenditure in metabolic equivalent rate and kcal/day show a statistically significant correlation with functional ability parameters except for energy expenditure in kcal for the day and independence in activities of daily living. Conclusion: As reported with other studies, our study participants also report low physical activity as compared to the recommendation. Functional ability parameters gait speed and gait endurance show moderate correlation and independence in activities of daily living shows low or no correlation with physical activity parameters. There is a strong need to increase physical activity among stroke participants.