Perceived recovery as a predictor of physical activity participation after mild stroke.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to identify what acute care variables and/or perceived recovery factors could predict decreased participation in physical activities post-mild stroke.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of persons with mild stroke. Participants were split into two groups based on the percentage of high-demand leisure (HDL) activities retained on the Activity Card Sort (ACS) at 6 months post-stroke. Demographic variables, measures from the acute care setting (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), premorbid Barthel Index, and Modified Rankin Scale), and a perceived recovery measure collected at 6 months post-stroke (Stroke Impact Scale (SIS)) were analyzed between groups using independent samples t-tests and logistic regression.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between groups on any of the demographic or acute care setting measures. Logistic regression indicated that only the overall perceived recovery (p = 0.05) and strength domain scores (p = 0.01) of the SIS were statistically significant factors for determining the percent of retained HDL activities following mild stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians must consider the clients' own perceived recovery level and other more subjective factors in determining what barriers are limiting their physical activity participation after stroke.