Effects of premorbid physical activity on stroke severity and post-stroke functioning
Original version
Ursin, M. H., Ihle-Hansen, H., Fure, B., Tveit, A., & Bergland, A. (2015). Effects of Premorbid Physical Activity on Stroke Severity and Post-Stroke Functioning. Journal of rehabilitation medicine, 47(7), 612-617. http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/16501977-1972Abstract
Objective:
To explore the impact of premorbid physical ac
-
tivity on stroke severity and functioning, measured by activi
-
ties of daily living, gait and balance during the acute period
of first-ever stroke and at one-year follow-up.
Methods:
Acute phase and one-year follow-up registrations
of 183 patients with first-ever stroke or transient ischaemic
attack were included in the study. Gender, age, education,
living arrangements, body mass index, smoking, hyperten
-
sion, stroke classification and use of walking aids were re
-
corded. Premorbid physical activity was recorded with the
Walking Habits questionnaire. The outcomes post-stroke
were the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, the Mod
-
ified Ranking Scale, Barthel ADL Index, Maximal Walking
Speed and Berg Balance Scale.
Results:
Significant associations (
p
<
0.05) were found be
-
tween the participants` pre-stroke “duration of regular
walks” and functioning on all outcomes in the acute phase
of stroke. Participants who walked for more than 30 min
each time achieved significantly better results. The measures
of gait and balance showed similar associations (
p
<
0.05) at
one-year follow-up.
Conclusion:
There are significant associations between pre
-
morbid walking habits and functional status after first-ever
stroke. Weekly light-intensity activity, such as walking for
more than 30 min, may have a sustained impact on function
-
ing after stroke.