The Impact of Mild Stroke on Participation in Physical Fitness Activities

Abstract EN

Objective.

To compare participation in moderate to high intensity physical activities in persons before and after a mild stroke.

Methods.

We used data from the Cognitive Rehabilitation and Research Group to examine changes in moderate to high intensity physical activity participation in persons who had a mild stroke as defined by an NIH Stroke Scale score of less than 6 (N=127).

Using the Activity Card Sort, we compared the participants' high-demand leisure activity (leisure activities that are moderate to high intensity physical activities) participation at 6-months after stroke with their prestroke level.

Results.

We found a significant decrease in numbers of high-demand leisure activities in all participants and in each demographic group after mild stroke.

Conclusion.

These results suggest that persons after mild stroke are not retaining the high-demand leisure activities they were doing prior to their stroke.

Health professionals must promote participation in high-demand leisure activities in patients with mild stroke as a tool to enhance health and fitness.