Arm impairment and walking speed explain real-life activity of the affected Arm and leg after stroke

• Objective: To determine to what extent accelerometer-based arm, leg and trunk activity is associated with sensorimotor impairments, walking capacity and other factors in subacute stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Patients: Twenty-six individuals with stroke (mean age 55.4 years, severe to mild motor impairment). Methods: Data on daytime activity were collected over a period of 4 days from accelerometers placed on the wrists, ankles and trunk. A forward stepwise linear regression was used to determine associations between free-living activity, clinical and demographic variables. Results: Arm motor impairment (Fugl-Meyer Assessment) and walking speed explained more than 60% of the variance in daytime activity of the more-affected arm, while walking speed alone explained 60% of the more-affected leg activity. Activity of the less-affected arm and leg was associated with arm motor impairment (R2=0.40) and independence in walking (R2=0.59). Arm activity ratio was associated with arm impairment (R2=0.63) and leg activity ratio with leg impairment (R2=0.38) and walking speed (R2=0.27). Walking-related variables explained approximately 30% of the variance in trunk activity. Conclusion: Accelerometer-based free-living activity is dependent on motor impairment and walking capacity. The most relevant activity data were obtained from more-affected limbs. Motor impairment and walking speed can provide some information about real-life daytime activity levels.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Sjukgymnastik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Physiotherapy (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Allmänmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- General Practice (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Accelerometry

Ambulatory monitoring

Clinical research

Outcome assessment (healthcare)

Outcome measures

Rehabilitation

Stroke

Wearable technology

adult

aged

arm injury

cerebrovascular accident

complication

cross-sectional study

female

human

male

middle aged

pathology

physiology

procedures

stroke rehabilitation

very elderly

walking speed

Aged

80 and over

Arm Injuries

Cross-Sectional Studies

Humans

stroke

accelerometry

clinical research

rehabilitation

ambulatory

monitoring

wearable technology

outcome assessment (healthcare)

outcome measures

physical-activity

subacute stroke

reliability

behavior

people

scale

Rehabilitation

Sport Sciences

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)