Physical Activity Level of Ambulatory Stroke Patients: Is it Related to Neuropsychological Factors?

Abstract

Introduction: Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for stroke and stroke recurrence. There is insufficient knowledge about the physical activity (PA) level in stroke patients who are ambulatory in the subacute phase. Our aim was to compare the PA level between ambulatory stroke patients and a population of the same age and to investigate neuropsychological factors that could affect the PA level in the same stroke group.Methods: Eighty-five subacute stroke patients and 58 healthy subjects were included. Patients' demographic features, disease-related features, and comorbidities were recorded. The PA level was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Version and a pedometer (OMRON Walking style II). The Apathy Rating Scale was applied to determine the apathy level. Depression level was investigated by the Geriatric Depression Scale. The standardized Mini-mental State Examination was performed to assess the cognitive status.Results: The PA level was significantly higher in the healthy group than in the stroke group (p<0.001).Step count and walking distance were significantly higher in healthy group (p=0.001 and p=0.04, respectively). The PA level of men was significantly higher than that of women (p=0.03). Participants who were classified as level 4 had a lower PA level than those who were classified as level 5 according to the Functional Ambulation Category. There was no relationship between the PA level and the apathy, cognitive, and depression levels in the stroke patients (p>0.05). Conclusion:Subacute stroke patients have a lower PA level than healthy subjects. This is not related to neuropsychological factors. The reasons for minor deficits related to ambulation should be researched further while developing strategies for increasing the PA level of subacute stroke patients.Keywords: Stroke, apathy, depression, cognition, physical activity ABSTRACT 155level cannot be explained only by loss of motor function, psychological and cognitive factors have been proposed to analyze (13,14). In light of these findings, we aimed to compare the PA level between ambulatory stroke patients and a population of the same age and to investigate the demographic features and disease-related and neuropsychological factors that could affect the PA level in the same stroke group. We hypothesized that the PA level of ambulatory subacute stroke patients would be less than that of healthy subjects. We further hypothesized that the PA level would be affected by neuropsychological factors in the same population.

Factors associated with post‐stroke apathy in subacute stroke patients

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Health-related quality of life profiles and their dimension-specific associated factors among Malaysian stroke survivors: a cross sectional study

“…Participants' physical activity level after stroke was assessed by the short Malay version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) [ 24 , 25 ]. IPAQ comprises seven items with four activities domains (vigorous, moderate, walking and sitting).…”

Cognitive Function is a Predictor of the Daily Step Count in Patients With Subacute Stroke With Independent Walking Ability: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…Although patients with stroke in the subacute phase undergo intensive rehabilitation to improve activities of daily living, with the expectation that it will help speed up recovery, 11 a systematic review reported that patients with subacute stroke are often inactive. 12 The number of steps taken by patients with subacute stroke is fewer than those taken by healthy adults 12 , 13 and patients with chronic stroke. 14 Furthermore, daily steps during hospitalization are related to those after discharge.…”