title: Changes in physical activity and related functional and disability levels in the first six months after stroke: a longitudinal follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate how physical activity changes over the first 6 months after stroke, and how activity is related to function.
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. torunn.askim@ntnu.no
authors.forename: Torunn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Askim
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernhardt
authors.forename: Leonid
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Churilov
authors.forename: Kristine Rabben
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fredriksen
authors.forename: Bent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Indredavik
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation