Torunn Askim, Julie Bernhardt, Leonid Churilov, Kristine Rabben Fredriksen, Bent Indredavik
Department of neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. E-mail: torunn.askim@ntnu.no
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-1137

Objective: To investigate how physical activity changes over the first 6 months after stroke, and how activity is related to function.
Design: A longitudinal study with an initial assessment within 14 days after stroke (in hospital) and follow-up assessments 1, 3 and 6 months later (in-patient rehabilitation or at home).
Subjects: Patients with acute stroke.
Methods: An accelerometer with a switch tilt was used to measure activity over a period of 24 h on each occasion. The Barthel Index (BI) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were applied as functional measures.
Results: A total of 28 out of 44 recruited patients were included in the analysis (15 men (53. 6%), mean age 79 years). The median time in the upright position increased from 92 min at baseline to 144 min 6 months later. A generalized least-square regression models showed that time in the upright position increased by 2. 0 min for every day from baseline to 1 month later (p = 0. 003). A single point increase on the BBS was associated with an extra 4. 3 min in the upright position (p < 0. 001), while a single point increase on the BI was associated with an extra 2. 1 min in the upright position (p < 0. 001).
Conclusion: Activity levels are very low during the first 6 months after stroke. However, time in the upright position was found to increase as function improved.