Functional activities habits in chronic stroke patients: A perspective based on ICF framework.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Occupational Therapy

Background:

• Functional autonomy and social inclusion are critical for successful stroke patient rehabilitation.
• Stroke recovery often involves addressing limitations in daily living activities.
• Maintaining independence and social connections are key goals post-stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the activity and participation levels of chronic stroke patients.
• Assessed basic (BADL), instrumental (IADL), and social (SADL) activities of daily living.
• Quantified functional limitations in a cohort of stroke survivors.

Main Methods:

• A functional activities habits questionnaire was administered.
• Included 24 individuals with chronic stroke and 16 healthy controls.
• Compared functional performance between stroke patients and a healthy group.

Main Results:

• Significant deficits were observed in basic activities of daily living (BADL), with many patients unable to perform self-care tasks independently.
• Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) showed widespread impairments, including cooking, cleaning, and managing finances.
• Social activities of daily living (SADL) were severely restricted, with most patients not engaging in work, social visits, or leisure activities.

Conclusions:

• Chronic stroke patients exhibit substantial limitations in activity and participation, persisting years after stroke onset.
• Deficits span across essential life domains, including knowledge application, communication, domestic tasks, and community involvement.
• These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve functional independence and social reintegration in stroke survivors.