title: Prevalence of physical activity and sedentary behavior among stroke survivors in the United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk of stroke is greatest among adults who have experienced a previous stroke, transient ischemic attack, or myocardial infarction. Physical activity may reduce the secondary risk of stroke through mediating effects on blood pressure, vasoconstriction, and circulating lipid concentrations; however, little is known about the prevalence of physical activity and sedentary behavior among stroke survivors in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we describe self-reported and objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior among adults with a self-reported history of stroke. We also contrast physical activity among stroke survivors with that of adults without stroke (unexposed) to illustrate expected behavior in the absence of disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fewer participants with stroke met weekly physical activity guidelines as outlined in the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans when compared with unexposed participants (17.9% vs 25.0%) according to self-reported data. In addition, participants with stroke reported less moderate (46.1% vs 54.7%) and vigorous (9.1% vs 19.6%) leisure activity compared with unexposed participants. As measured by accelerometer, time since diagnosis was inversely associated with physical activity engagement, and participants with stroke recorded more daily hours of sedentary behavior compared with unexposed participants (10.1 hours vs 8.9 hours).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from this study provide a basis for future work seeking to measure the impact of physical activity on the secondary prevention of stroke by characterizing the prevalence of physical activity and sedentary behavior among stroke survivors in the United States.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Eboneé N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Kelly R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Evenson
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: accelerometer; physical activity; physical activity guidelines; sedentary behavior; stroke