Applying the transtheoretical model to the exercise behaviors of stroke patients

Individuals with disabilities, including stroke, are frequently deconditioned. A variety of factors, including infrequent exercise participation, may be responsible for the deconditioning observed. According to the transtheoretical model (TTM), individuals progress through cognitive processes, termed stages, that indicate their readiness to undertake a particular healthy behavior, such as exercise. Our study examined 178 community-dwelling stroke patients' readiness to initiate an exercise program and their current exercise patterns. Using the Stages of Change Questionnaire, we found over 75% of respondents to be in the exercise preadoption stages of precontemplation, contemplation, or preparation. Moreover, participants classified in the postadoption stages of maintenance and action reported exercising significantly more than those in the preadoption stages. Individuals in the postadoption stages were also participating in significantly more sessions of strenuous or moderate exercise than those in the preadoption stages. It was concluded that the TTM is a valid theoretical framework to measure stroke patients' readiness to participate in exercise. However, additional research examining the psychosocial and functional factors mitigating these attitudes, and the stability of these attitudes, needs to be performed.