Monica Skarin, Anna Sjöholm, Åsa Lundgren Nilsson, Michael Nilsson, Julie Bernhardt, Thomas Lindén
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 41345 Göteborg, Sweden
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-1214

Objective: To establish physical activity level, environment and social interaction in routine stroke rehabilitation practice.
Design: Prospective observational study using behavioural mapping.
Methods: Patients at 4 hospital stroke rehabilitation units in Sweden at least 7 days post-stroke were observed over 1 week-day at 10 min intervals between 08. 00 h and 17. 00 h. At each observation, physical activity, location and people present were ascertained.
Results: Patients (n = 104) had a mean age of 70. 3 (standard deviation (SD) 14. 4) years. Median time since stroke was 19 (range 7–142) days. Patients were alone for 52% of the day, during this time 7% was spent in standing/walking activities. While with a physiotherapist patients were standing/walking for 43% of the time. Using median regression it was found that the median percentage of time spent in standing/walking was associated with gait independence and age. Gait independence increased the median percentage of time spent in standing/walking by 16. 5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 12. 1–20. 9, p < 0. 001), while an increase of 1 year of age reduced the median percentage of time spent in standing/walking by 0. 16% (95% CI –0. 31 to –0. 01, p < 0. 05).
Conclusion: Patients had low levels of physical activity and social interaction. This study suggests that there is a huge potential to increase patients’ activity level and augment social interaction above current levels.