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Poststroke Fatigue and Daily Activity Patterns During Outpatient Rehabilitation: An Experience Sampling Method Study
Bert Lenaert1, Mathea Neijmeijer2, Nadine van Kampen3
1Limburg Brain Injury Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Poststroke fatigue is linked to physical activity, effort, and enjoyment. Understanding these daily activity links can help personalize rehabilitation programs for stroke survivors experiencing fatigue.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Poststroke fatigue significantly impacts quality of life and recovery.
- Understanding the dynamic relationship between daily activities and fatigue is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the momentary and time-lagged associations between daily activities and poststroke fatigue.
- To explore individual differences in these relationships.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal observational study utilizing the experience sampling method (ESM) with 30 individuals poststroke.
- Participants completed digital questionnaires via a mobile app 10 times daily for 6 days, reporting on fatigue, activity type, perceived effort, and enjoyment.
Main Results:
- Fatigue was significantly associated with activity type, physical activity engagement, perceived effort, and enjoyment.
- Physical activity and perceived effort earlier in the day predicted subsequent fatigue.
- Substantial individual variability was observed in the relationship between daily activities and fatigue.
Conclusions:
- Experience sampling method (ESM) is valuable for capturing real-time fatigue and patient-reported outcomes in daily life.
- Findings support the need for personalized rehabilitation strategies tailored to individual activity-fatigue relationships.
