Promoting physical activity after stroke via self-management: a feasibility study
Elisabeth Preston1, Catherine M Dean2, Louise Ada3
1a Discipline of Physiotherapy , University of Canberra , Canberra , Australia.
Background:
Many people with mild disability after stroke are physically inactive despite the risk of recurrent stroke. A self-management program may be one strategy to increase physical activity in stroke survivors.
Objectives:
To investigate the feasibility of a self-management program, and determine whether self-management can increase daily physical activity levels and self-efficacy for exercise, decrease cardiovascular risk, and improve walking ability, participation, and quality of life in people with mild disability after stroke.
Method:
A Phase I, single-group, pre-post intervention study was carried out with twenty stroke survivors who had mild disability and were discharged directly home from acute stroke units. A self-management program was delivered via five home-based sessions over 3 months, incorporating: education, goal setting, barrier identification, self-monitoring, and feedback. Feasibility of the intervention was determined by examining adherence, duration, usefulness, and safety. Clinical outcomes were amount of physical activity (duration of moderate physical activity in min/day and counts of physical activity in steps/day), self-efficacy, cardiovascular risk, walking ability, participation, and quality of life.
Results:
The intervention was feasible with 96% of sessions being delivered, each taking less than an hour (41 min, SD 12). Participants perceived the self-management program to be useful and there were few adverse events. At 3 months, participants completed 27 min/day (95% CI 4-49) more moderate physical activity than at baseline and 16 min/day (95% CI -10 to 42) at 6 months.
Conclusion:
Self-management appears to be feasible and has the potential to increase physical activity in people with mild disability after stroke. A Phase II randomized trial is warranted.
