Does participation in standardized aerobic fitness training during inpatient stroke rehabilitation promote engagement in aerobic exercise after discharge? A cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether attending an aerobic fitness program during inpatient stroke rehabilitation is associated with increased participation in physical activity after discharge.


METHODS
This was a prospective cohort study. Patients who received inpatient stroke rehabilitation and were discharged into the community (n = 61; mean age, 65 years) were recruited. Thirty-five participants attended a standardized aerobic fitness program during inpatient rehabilitation, whereas 26 did not. The Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities (PASIPD) and adherence to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines were assessed up to 6 months after discharge.


RESULTS
Participants in the fitness group had PASIPD scores and adherence to ACSM guidelines similar to those of participants in the nonfitness group up to 6 months after discharge. There was no significant correlation between volume of exercise performed during the inpatient program and amount of physical activity after discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
Participation in an inpatient fitness program did not increase participation in physical activity after discharge in individuals with stroke. A new model of care that encourages patients to pursue physical activity after discharge and reduces the potential barriers to participation should be developed.
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Mobility Research Team, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute sites, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Christiane
C
Brown
Mobility Research Team, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Julia E
JE
Fraser
Mobility Research Team, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Elizabeth L
EL
Inness
Mobility Research Team, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Jennifer S
JS
Wong
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Mobility Research Team, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute sites, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Laura E
LE
Middleton
Mobility Research Team, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Vivien
V
Poon
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Mobility Research Team, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute sites, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
William E
WE
McIlroy
Mobility Research Team, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute sites, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Avril
A
Mansfield
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
aerobic exercise; exercise therapy; health planning guidelines; physical activity; rehabilitation; self-report; stroke