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How Physically Active Are People Following Stroke? Systematic Review and Quantitative Synthesis
Natalie A Fini1, Anne E Holland2, Jenny Keating3
1Physiotherapy Department, Caulfield Hospital, Alfred Health, 260 Kooyong Rd, Caulfield, Victoria, 3162 Australia; Department of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia; and Department of Physiotherapy, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Physical activity (PA) levels remain low after stroke, with individuals spending over 78% of their time sedentary. Increasing PA and setting activity targets are crucial for recovery at all stages post-stroke.
Area of Science:
- Neurorehabilitation
- Physical Therapy
- Stroke Recovery
Background:
- Mobility limitations are prevalent post-stroke, often hindering physical activity (PA) participation.
- Understanding PA patterns across stroke recovery phases is essential for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically describe physical activity (PA) levels in individuals at different stages of stroke recovery: acute, subacute, and chronic.
- To identify quantitative measures of PA and sedentary behavior across these phases.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across five databases.
- Included studies quantitatively measured PA for at least 4 hours in participants with stroke.
- Data extraction and quality assessment were performed, with weighted means calculated for PA outcomes.
Main Results:
- Searches identified 103 eligible papers involving 5306 participants.
- Device-measured data showed significantly fewer daily steps in subacute (5535) and chronic (4078) phases compared to healthy controls (8338).
- Sedentary time exceeded 78% across all phases, with limited acute-phase data available.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity levels post-stroke do not meet recommended guidelines.
- High levels of inactivity and sedentary time persist throughout stroke recovery.
- Standardized activity targets and interventions to increase PA are recommended for all stroke survivors.
