Personal and social factors that influence physical activity levels in community-dwelling stroke survivors: A systematic review of qualitative literature

The relationship between levels of physical activity and participation in everyday life in stroke survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Stroke survivors demonstrate decreased physical activity (PA) and take time to return to participation in everyday life, but the relationship between the two variables is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation and trajectory over time between levels of PA and participation in everyday life in stroke survivors.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Rehabilitation&Sport Medicine Source, and PEDro databases were searched from inception to January 2024. Cross-sectional and prospective studies evaluating both levels of PA and participation in stroke survivors were included. Two reviewers independently conducted the study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Meta-analyses of pooled correlation coefficients were calculated when at least two studies reported a correlation coefficient between the same PA and participation outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 4962 studies identified, 49 were included in the systematic review. Studies were rated high (55%%) or fair (45%) quality. A wide range of monitoring methodologies for assessing PA and participation were found in the 23 prospective studies. Seven studies were included in the meta-analyses, showing a positive moderate correlation between PA time and participation in activities of daily living (n = 148; r = 0.52; P < 0.01; I2 = 81%) in participants <6 months post-stroke, and between PA time and the participation in all areas (n = 126; r = 0.44; P < 0.01; I2 = 0%) in participants ≥6 months post-stroke. Overall, while PA showed significant improvements over time, participation only showed a tendency.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the heterogeneity, consistent positive associations were found between PA time and participation levels in some areas. Establishing consensus is crucial to reduce heterogeneity and facilitate data pooling.

Similarities and differences in factors associated with high and low sedentary behavior after stroke: a mixed methods study

PURPOSE

To identify similarities and differences in factors affecting activity engagement between adults with stroke who are more and less sedentary.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were pooled from two studies of adults with stroke (N = 36). Sedentary time was measured activPAL micro3. Participants completed activPAL interviews, which were analyzed using framework analysis. Participants were stratified into more and less sedentary groups based on activPAL data. Between-group similarities and differences were identified.

RESULTS

Adults with stroke (mean [SD] age = 65.8 [13.6] years, stroke chronicity = 40.5 [SD = 38.3] months, 36.1% female) were more sedentary (785.5 [64.7] sedentary minutes/day) and less sedentary (583.6 [87.4] sedentary minutes/day). Those who were more sedentary: engaged in basic activities of daily living, avoided activities, received assistance from other people, and did not use strategies to overcome barriers. Those who were less sedentary: engaged in instrumental and community activities, embraced new strategies, did activities with other people, and used strategies to overcome environmental barriers.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors affecting activity engagement differed between people who are more and less sedentary. Interventions that aim to reduce post-stroke sedentary behavior should consider the: (1) types of activities, (2) role of other people, and (2) application of strategies to overcome activity and environment-related barriers.

A general theory of rehabilitation: Rehabilitation catalyses and assists adaptation to illness

BACKGROUND

There is no general theory of rehabilitation, only definitions and descriptions, with the biopsychosocial model of illness as a structure.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a general theory of rehabilitation that explains how healthcare rehabilitation changes outcomes and to evaluate its validity.

NEED

A general rehabilitation theory would help research, improve services, increase understanding, modify resource allocation and explain some anomalies, such as how rehabilitation helps when no natural recovery occurs.

BUILDING BLOCKS

People adapt to change throughout their lives. Illness is a change, and people adapt to their illness. Adaptation's purpose is to maintain an equilibrium in a person's life. The balanced components are related to Maslow's five needs: basic, safety, affiliation, status and self-fulfilment. The general theory of behaviour suggests that a person's behaviours change to maintain balance, regulated by a central homeostatic mechanism.

THE THEORY

Rehabilitation aids adaptation to changes associated with illness through accurate diagnosis and formulation, catalysing adaptation, optimising the environment and assisting the person in making necessary changes by safely practising activities and teaching self-management.

IMPLICATIONS

The theory makes the person the central active agent, emphasises the importance of the environment in facilitating adaptation, explains why all conditions may benefit, including progressive and static conditions, suggests that health can be equated to someone maintaining their equilibrium and explains why a small dose may be very effective.

CONCLUSION

The general theory of rehabilitation emphasises the catalytic effects of rehabilitation in facilitating and guiding adaptation and suggests areas for research and improvement.

Use of the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Behaviour model (COM-B) to Understand Interventions to Support Physical Activity Behaviour in People with Stroke: An Overview of Reviews

OBJECTIVE

Physical activity in people with stroke remains low despite considerable research. This overview aimed to provide high-level synthesis and aid clinical decision-making. The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model was used to classify interventions to understand which components improve physical activity behaviour in people with stroke.

DATA SOURCES

CINAHL, Cochrane Database, MEDLINE, PEDro, PsychINFO, SPORTDiscus.

REVIEW METHODS

A systematic search was conducted (November 2023) to identify reviews of interventions to improve physical activity in people with stroke. Results were screened and assessed for eligibility. Participant characteristics, intervention classification using COM-B, and effect of intervention were extracted. Quality was assessed using AMSTAR2, and Corrected Cover Analysis for study overlap. Narrative synthesis was used to understand components of interventions to improve physical activity behaviour.

RESULTS

1801 references were screened and 29 full-text references assessed for eligibility. Twenty reviews were included. Quality ranged from critically low (n = 3) to high (n = 10). Study overlap calculated using corrected cover area indicated slight overlap (0.028) and minimal reporting bias.The majority of participants were mobile with mild stroke and community dwelling. Twenty-three interventions were classified using COM-B. Three of twelve interventions classified to one aspect of the COM-B were effective. Fourteen of sixteen effective interventions combined at least two COM-B elements, ten of these combined capability and motivation.

CONCLUSION

Interventions including at least two elements of the COM-B are most likely to improve physical activity in mobile stroke survivors. Further research is needed to understand physical activity behaviour in those with moderate to severe stroke.

What influences stroke survivors with physical disabilities to be physically active? A qualitative study informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework

BACKGROUND

Although the benefits of regular physical activity (PA) after stroke are well established, many stroke survivors do not achieve recommended PA levels. To date, studies exploring determinants to PA have not used a behaviour change theory and focused on stroke survivors with physical disabilities. As a precursor to an intervention development study, we aimed to use the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to identify factors influencing PA in stroke survivors with physical disabilities in Singapore.

METHODS

Between November 2021 and January 2022, we conducted interviews with 19 community-dwelling stroke survivors with a weak arm and/or leg. An interview guide based on the TDF was developed. We analysed the data deductively by coding interview transcripts into the theoretical domains of the TDF, and then inductively by generating themes and belief statements. To identify relevant TDF domains, we prioritised the domains based on the frequencies of the belief statements, presence of conflicting belief statements and evidence of strong belief statements.

RESULTS

Eight of the 14 TDF domains were relevant, and included environmental context and resources, knowledge, social influences, emotion, reinforcement, behavioural regulation, skills and beliefs about capabilities. The lack of access, suitable equipment and skilled help often limited PA participation at public fitness spaces such as parks, gyms and swimming pools (environmental context and resources). While a few stroke survivors expressed that they had the skills to engage in regular PA, most expressed not knowing how much and how hard to work, which exercises to do, which equipment to use and how to adapt exercises and equipment (knowledge and skills). This often left them feeling afraid to try new activities or venture out to new places for fear of the unknown or adverse events (e.g., falls) (emotion). For some, doing the activities in a group encourage them to get out and engage in PA (social influences).

CONCLUSIONS

In stroke survivors with physical disabilities, environmental context and resources had a significant influence on PA participation, and this often had a spill over effect into other domains. Our results inform a complex behaviour change intervention to improve PA after stroke, and has implications for intervention design for people with physical disabilities.

Association of Neighborhood Recreation Centers and Poststroke Outcomes in a Population-Based Cohort

BACKGROUND

Higher neighborhood socioeconomic status has been favorably associated with stroke outcomes. This may be due to these areas having more beneficial resources such as recreational centers. We aimed to determine if neighborhood density of recreation centers is favorably associated with stroke outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted analyses of data from the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi project, a cohort of stroke survivors ≥45 years of age residing in Nueces County, TX (2009-2020). We included non-Hispanic White and Mexican American incident stroke survivors, who were not institutionalized prestroke and completed baseline and follow-up assessments (N=1392). We calculated the density of fitness and recreational sports centers within their residential census tract during the year of their stroke. Outcomes included function (self-ratings on activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living), cognition (modified mini-mental state exam), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8), and quality of life (abbreviated Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale). We fit confounder-adjusted gamma-distributed mixed generalized linear models with a log link for each outcome and considered interaction with stroke severity.

RESULTS

On average, participants were 65 years old, 53% male, and 63% Mexican American. Median recreational centers were 1.60 per square mile (interquartile range, 0.41-3.06). Among moderate-severe stroke survivors, greater density of recreation centers (75th versus 25th percentile) was associated with more favorable function and possibly quality of life (activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living, 4.8% change [95% CI, -0.11% to -9.27%]; Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale, 3.7% change [95% CI, -0.7% to 8.2%]). Minimal nonsignificant differences were observed among the overall stroke population and those with mild stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

The availability of recreation centers may be beneficial for poststroke function and quality of life among those with moderate-severe stroke. If further research confirms recreation centers to be beneficial, this could inform rehabilitation following stroke.

Relationship between Participation in Daily Life Activities and Physical Activity in Stroke Survivors: A Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Stroke survivors undertake low levels of physical activity and participation in daily life activities, but the correlation between these two domains still carries some degree of uncertainty. This systematic review and meta-analyses-based data synthesis will aim to describe and estimate the relationship between participation in daily life activities and physical activity in stroke survivors. Six databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro, SPORTDiscus, and Rehabilitation & Sport Medicine Source) will be searched. Studies assessing participation alongside physical activity levels in adult stroke survivors in English or Spanish will be included. The study selection, assessment of the risk of bias, and data extraction will be conducted independently by two investigators. If available, correlation values between physical activity and participation outcomes will be extracted. The Hedges-Olkin method will be used for pooling correlation values between participation and physical activity measures. Subgroup analyses will be performed according to the time elapsed since the stroke (i.e., ≤6 months and >6 months). This will be the first systematic review with a meta-analysis to provide information on the relationship between physical activity and participation in stroke survivors. Findings are likely to inform the design of health prevention protocols and the development of healthy behavior change interventions.

Keeping Active with Texting after Stroke (KATS): development of a text message intervention to promote physical activity and exercise after stroke

BACKGROUND

Post-stroke physical activity reduces disability and risk of further stroke. When stroke rehabilitation ends, some people feel abandoned by services and struggle to undertake physical activities that support recovery and health. The aim of this study was to codesign a novel text message intervention to promote physical activity among people with stroke and provide support when formal rehabilitation ends. This manuscript describes the intervention development processes that will inform future pilot and feasibility studies.

METHODS

The planned intervention was a series of text messages to be sent in a predetermined sequence to people with stroke at the end of rehabilitation. The intervention, underpinned by behaviour change theory and using salient behaviour change techniques, would provide daily messages offering encouragement and support for the uptake and maintenance of physical activity following stroke. The intervention was codesigned by a Collaborative Working Group, comprised of people with stroke, rehabilitation therapists, representatives from stroke charities and academics. A four-step framework was used to design the intervention: formative research on physical activity post-stroke, creation of the behaviour change text message intervention, pre-testing and refinement. Formative research included a review of the scientific evidence and interviews with community-dwelling people with stroke. Data generated were used by the Collaborative Working Group to identify topics to be addressed in the intervention. These were mapped to constructs of the Health Action Process Approach, and salient behaviour change techniques to deliver the intervention were identified. The intervention was rendered into a series of text messages to be delivered over 12 weeks. The draft intervention was revised and refined through an iterative process including review by people with stroke, their spouses, rehabilitation therapists and experts in the field of stroke. The messages encourage regular physical activity but do not prescribe exercise or provide reminders to exercise at specific times. They use conversational language to encourage engagement, and some are personalised for participants. Quotes from people with stroke provide encouragement and support and model key behaviour change techniques such as goal setting and coping planning.

DISCUSSION

Co-design processes were critical in systematically developing this theory and evidence-based intervention. People with stroke and rehabilitation therapists provided insights into perceived barriers post-rehabilitation and identified strategies to overcome them. The structured multistep approach highlighted areas for improvement through successive rounds of review. The intervention will be tested for acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness in future studies. This co-design approach could be used for interventions for other heath behaviours and with different populations.

Multidimensional analysis of sedentary behaviour and participation in Spanish stroke survivors (Part&Sed-Stroke): a protocol for a longitudinal multicentre study

INTRODUCTION

Stroke survivors usually experience long-lasting functional, emotional and social consequences that might contribute to sedentary behaviour and participation restrictions, which are important targets to address during rehabilitation. However, the trajectory and inter-relationship between these factors are unknown.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Part&Sed is a research project based on an observational study design with 6 and 12 months of follow-ups in stroke survivors. In addition, a qualitative analysis of the impact of the stroke on the stroke survivor, validation of the Satisfaction with Daily Occupation-Occupational Balance assessment tool and analysis of the reliability of the Fitbit Inspire 2 activity tracker wristband will be carried out. Participants will be chronic stroke survivors with independent walking capacity. Sociodemographic and clinical data, physical activity, ambulation, sleep, quality of life, anxiety and depression, community participation, and occupational satisfaction and balance, as well as data provided by the activity tracker wristband, will be collected. In addition, if the participant has a primary caregiver, the caregiver will also be monitored. A minimum of 130 participants will be recruited to conduct a random-effects multiple regression model. Mixed models for repeated measures will assess the variation over time of the different variables associated with participation and sedentary behaviour. Psychometric properties (eg, internal consistency, construct validity, test-retest reliability) of the Satisfaction with Daily Occupation-Occupational Balance will be determined. Additionally, intraclass correlation coefficients and minimum detectable change will be calculated to assess intrasubject reliability of physical activity and sleep parameters recorded by the Fitbit Inspire 2. The qualitative analysis process will be carried out using the analysis proposed by Giorgi.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study received ethical approval from the Spanish Regional Ethics Committee 'Comité de Ética de la Investigación de la Comunidad de Aragón' (PI21/333). The results will be made available via peer-reviewed publications, international conferences and official channels.

Development of a tailored intervention targeting sedentary behavior and physical activity in people with stroke and diabetes: A qualitative study using a co-creation framework

Purpose

Type 2 diabetes and sedentary behavior pose serious health risks in stroke survivors. Using a co-creation framework, this study aimed to develop an intervention in collaboration with stroke survivors with type 2 diabetes, relatives, and cross-sectoral health care professionals to reduce sedentary behavior and increase physical activity.

Materials and methods

This qualitative explorative study used a co-creation framework consisting of a workshop and focus group interviews with stroke survivors with type 2 diabetes (n = 3), relative (n = 1), and health care professionals (n = 10) to develop the intervention. A content analysis was used to analyze data.

Results

The developed "Everyday Life is Rehabilitation" (ELiR) intervention consisted of a tailored 12-week home-based behavior change intervention with two consultations of action planning, goal setting, motivational interviewing, and fatigue management including education on sedentary behavior, physical activity, and fatigue. The intervention has a minimalistic setup using a double-page paper "Everyday Life is Rehabilitation" (ELiR) instrument making it implementable and tangible.

Conclusions

In this study, a theoretical framework was used to develop a tailored 12-week home-based behavior change intervention. Strategies to reduce sedentary behavior and increase physical activity through activities of daily living along with fatigue management in stroke survivors with type 2 diabetes were identified.

A Unified Model for Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation: Why Now?

ABSTRACT

The current model of stroke care delivery in the United States and in many parts of the world is fragmented, resulting in lack of continuity of care, inability to track recovery meaningfully across the continuum, and lack of access to the frequency, intensity, and duration of high-quality rehabilitation necessary to optimally harness recovery processes. The process of recovery itself has been overshadowed by a focus on length of stay and the movement of patients across levels of care. Here, we describe the rationale behind the recent efforts at the Johns Hopkins Sheikh Khalifa Stroke Institute to define and coordinate an intensive, strategic effort to develop effective stroke systems of care across the continuum through the development of a unified Sheikh Khalifa Stroke Institute model of recovery and rehabilitation.

A meta-analysis of studies of the effects of case management intervention for stroke survivors across three countries

PURPOSE

A stroke survivor who is discharged to home care faces many challenges during the transition from the hospital to home, including managing their care at home and engaging in rehabilitation and recovery. Case management was developed to ease the transition from hospital to home and help people with stroke cope with their care management challenges. However, the effects of case management intervention remain inconclusive. Case management was designed to direct care and may represent a novel method for reducing the burden of care. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of case management interventions on mental health outcomes, activities of daily living capacity, physical function, and social function among stroke survivors.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

This study included studies examining the impacts of case management interventions for stroke survivors that were published in English and identified by searching eight databases, from database inception to February 20, 2022. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to pool effect sizes using a random-effects model (in Stata 16.0). The revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB-2) was used to assess the methodological quality of each study.

FINDINGS

The inclusion criteria were satisfied by eight studies (including a total of 1119 stroke survivors). Case management had positive effects on mental health (SMD: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.45, p = 0.001) and activities of daily living (SMD: 0.68; 95% CI: 00.37 to 0.99, p < 0.001). However, no significant effects were observed for either physical function or social function.

CONCLUSION

Case management appears to enhance the mental health and activities of daily living among stroke survivors.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Case management interventions hold promise as efficient, cost-effective, and accessible strategies to positively influence care for stroke survivors. This intervention strategy could be applied to the hospital-to-home transition to guide care among this population.

Post-Stroke Experiences and Rehabilitation Needs of Community-Dwelling Chinese Stroke Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Stroke survivors encounter significant limitations in daily life activities and face increased risk of health complications such as stroke recurrence. Considering the escalating demand for personalised community rehabilitation services, this qualitative study was conducted to understand the current recovery experiences, needs, and expectations of community-dwelling stroke survivors. Fifty stroke survivors were recruited from two tertiary teaching hospitals and community centres in two provinces in mainland China. Semi-structured interviews were carried out, and participants were asked to describe their experiences of stroke, current lifestyles, exercise habits, and rehabilitation needs and expectations. Resulting data were thematically analysed. The majority of participants were first-time stroke survivors (80%) and lived with their family or caregivers (92%). Four main themes and twelve sub-themes emerged from the data: (1) shifts in social life, (2) shaken sense of self and perceived helplessness, (3) complex rehabilitation needs, and (4) perceptions and patterns of physical activity. Findings suggest that though survivors recognised their need for further rehabilitation, their demands remained unmet due to a combination of personal and external factors such as limited mobility and the absence of supportive companions and accessible facilities. The enhancement and diversification of home rehabilitation strategies are therefore necessary to make community rehabilitation more accessible and equitable.

Identity, social engagement and community participation impact physical activity levels of stroke survivors: A mixed-methods study

Objective

To explore how personal characteristics and social engagement impact the physical activity levels of chronic stroke survivors.

Design

A mixed-methods study comprising in-depth semi-structured interviews and objective 24-h physical activity monitoring. Interviews were thematically analysed, and activity diaries were compared to activity monitor data to attain a complete picture of physical activity. Triangulation explored the relationship between perceptions, beliefs, activity levels and social engagement.

Setting

Community.

Participants

Community-dwelling, independently mobile, adult stroke survivors (n = 19). The mean age was 74 (11 SD) years, 52% female, mean time post-stroke 41 (SD 61) months.

Main measures

Qualitative and quantitative measures including individual semi-structured interviews, accelerometry, activity diaries, self-efficacy, Frenchay Activities Index and Barthel Index.

Results

Individual identity had the greatest perceived influence on post-stroke physical activity. Pre-stroke identity, meaningful activities and family culture contributed to identity; while social and community activities, self-efficacy, co-morbidities, stroke symptoms and exercise, also impacted physical activity. Participants averaged 5365 (IQR 3378–7854) steps per day and reported a mean self-efficacy for exercise score of 51 (SD 20). Triangulation showed convergent relationships between post-stroke physical activity levels and participant motivation, comorbidities, level of social and community participation, self-efficacy and pre-stroke activity levels.

Conclusion

Personal identity, social engagement and community participation are important factors to consider when implementing a person-centred approach to increasing physical activity participation post-stroke.

Recommendations of the Schizophrenia Expert Center network for adequate physical activity in real-world schizophrenia (FACE-SZ)

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends adults complete 150-300 min per week of moderate physical activity or 75-150 min of vigorous physical activity or an equivalent combination of both, to optimize health. To explore the factors associated with adequate MVPA in stabilized outpatients with schizophrenia. 425 stabilized outpatients were recruited in the national FACE-SZ cohort between 2015 and 2018 were evaluated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a 1-day long standardized battery. We explored in multivariate analyses the clinical and pharmacological factors associated with MVPA (model 1) and the biological factors and patient-reported outcomes (model 2). Overall, only 86 (20.2%) of the 425 participants achieved the recommended MVPA threshold. In model 1, the adequate MVPA group was associated with younger age, mood stabilizers prescription and adherence to treatment, independent of sex, positive and depressive symptoms, first-generation antipsychotics prescription, anxiolytic medication, and akathisia. In model 2, adequate MVPA was associated with better glycemic and lipidic profile and better physical and psychological well-being, self-esteem, sentimental life, and resilience independently of age, sex, and current psychotic severity. The expert centers recommend the importance of promoting promote effective MVPA programs for stabilized patients with schizophrenia. Interventions studies suggest that MVPA may be a useful strategy to maximize physical and psychological well-being and self-esteem and potentially to prevent or manage metabolic disturbances.

Effect of innovative vs. usual care physical therapy in subacute rehabilitation after stroke. A multicenter randomized controlled trial

Background

Research on stroke rehabilitation often addresses common difficulties such as gait, balance or physical activity separately, a fragmentation contrasting the complexity in clinical practice. Interventions aiming for recovery are needed. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of a comprehensive low-cost physical therapy intervention, I-CoreDIST, vs. usual care on postural control, balance, physical activity, gait and health related quality of life during the first 12 weeks post-stroke.

Methods

This prospective, assessor-masked randomized controlled trial included 60 participants from two stroke units in Norway. Participants, who were randomized to I-CoreDIST (n = 29) or usual care physical therapy (n = 31), received 5 sessions/week when in-patients or 3 sessions/week as out-patients. Primary outcomes were the Trunk Impairment Scale-modified Norwegian version (TISmodNV) and activity monitoring (ActiGraphsWgt3X-BT). Secondary outcomes were the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke, MiniBesTEST, 10-meter walk test, 2-minute walk test, force-platform measurements and EQ5D-3L. Stroke specific quality of life scale was administered at 12 weeks. Linear regression and non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Five participants were excluded and seven lost to follow-up, leaving 48 participants in the intention-to-treat analysis. There were no significant between-group effects for primary outcomes: TIS-modNV (p = 0,857); daily average minutes of sedative (p = 0.662), light (p = 0.544) or moderate activity (p = 0.239) and steps (p = 0.288), or secondary outcomes at 12 weeks except for significant improvements on EQ5D-3L in the usual care group. Within-group changes were significant for all outcomes in both groups except for activity levels that were low, EQ5D-3L favoring the usual care group, and force-platform data favoring the intervention group.

Conclusions

Physical therapy treatment with I-CoreDIST improved postural control, balance, physical activity and gait during the first 12 weeks after a stroke but is not superior to usual care.

Community living after in-hospital specialized rehabilitation in patients with severe disability after stroke: a long-term follow-up after a randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

Physical functioning after discharge from specialized rehabilitation is a concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate functioning and health after a long period of community living in participants with severe disability after stroke.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An observational, longitudinal follow-up design was used to investigate 60 participants from a randomized controlled trial. Assessment tools: Short Form 36 health-survey, Functional Ambulation Categories, EU Walking, 10 Meter Walk Test, and questions concerning health and walking ability.

RESULTS

Forty-seven participants (78%) responded, mean age 51.2 years. Non-respondents demonstrated poorer function at hospital discharge. At follow-up, median 11.9 months after discharge, all but three respondents lived in their own home, and 85% received physiotherapy. Twenty-nine (64%) perceived their health as good to excellent, while four (9%) reported poor health. Activities requiring substantial strength and endurance were typically restricted. Most participants (83%) were independent walkers, and fewer (a 27% reduction) used a wheelchair. Among independent walkers, mean walking speed improved by 0.14 m/s. Time elapsed since hospital discharge was not found to correlate with change in walking speed.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates maintenance or progress in important aspects of functioning and health in most participants at long-term follow-up, but not in all.Implications for rehabilitationPatients with severe disability after stroke may maintain or improve their physical functioning and health after a long period of community living, when they receive continuous individualized rehabilitation including physiotherapy.Patients who maintain or improve walking ability and walking speed after living for a long time in the community, may still need assistance with daily activities, especially if they require substantial muscle strength and endurance.Expectations to long-term functional outcomes after institutional followed by community rehabilitation for patients after stroke, should be considered in light of functional status at hospital discharge.

The process of commitment to exercise among stroke survivors in Canada

The objective of this research was to understand the process of commitment to exercise participation for functional recovery among community-living survivors of stroke following discharge from formal rehabilitation. Participants were recruited from a mid-sized city in south-western Ontario, Canada. Between September 2017 and March 2018, 10 individuals living in the community with the effects of stroke, who continued to engage in regular exercise post-stroke, were recruited for participation. Constructivist grounded theory methodology was employed, utilising in-depth individual interviews and theoretical sampling, whereby data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously. Analysis involved constant comparison between data and codes to reduce knowledge gaps and formulate the proposed theory. The process of commitment to exercise involved four phases. Initiation of the process followed a significant interaction with a healthcare provider who advocated for participants to learn the foundations of exercise. Through planned exercise, maintenance of a positive attitude and comparisons with their pre-stroke selves and peers, participants identified future goals and imparted the desire to get back to life before stroke. Over time individuals navigated exercise opportunities-trialling different types and environments-to learn what works. Finally, participants developed a commitment to exercise as a way of life, supported by social connections and reinforced with pride in successes-mastering self-care skills, improved mobility and meaningful function. The process of commitment to exercise among survivors of stroke required early interactions with healthcare providers to initiate exercise participation for long-term engagement, and navigation through various exercise elements fuelled by a desire to reconnect with their pre-stroke selves.