title: Patient characteristics that influence enrollment and attendance in aerobic exercise early after stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify patient characteristics that influence physiotherapist's decisions on enrollment and attendance in a structured aerobic exercise program early after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive sample of people (N=345) admitted to inpatient stroke rehabilitation over a 2-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient demographic characteristics, preexisting medical conditions, and poststroke outcome variables (neurological deficit, physical impairment, balance control, and functional mobility and independence) were compared between individuals enrolled and not enrolled in a structured aerobic exercise program. The rate of attendance was calculated for the enrolled group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred twenty-nine patients (38%) were enrolled in the structured aerobic exercise program. Patients who were older (P=.0093) and had cardiac disease (P=.012), cardioembolic sources (P=.0094), and arthritis (P=.031) were less likely to be enrolled in the structured aerobic exercise program. Poststroke outcome variables were not associated with enrollment. Among those enrolled, the rate of attendance was positively correlated with the FIM cognitive rating (r=.27; P=.0031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enrollment in structured aerobic exercise programs during inpatient stroke rehabilitation can be limited by safety concerns related to patients' cardiovascular and musculoskeletal status. Barriers associated with the perception of cardiovascular risk factors should be confronted because they do not preclude participation in cardiac rehabilitation. In addition, poststroke deficits do not limit participation in adapted aerobic exercise early after stroke. It is likely that the characteristics of the structured aerobic exercise program were integral to accommodate the breadth of poststroke deficits encountered in this study. Future research investigating physiotherapist and practice environment factors that influence the decision to prescribe and implement aerobic exercise is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (University Health Network), Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Erik C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Prout
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (University Health Network), Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (University Health Network), Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Toronto, ON, Canada; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Avril
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mansfield
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (University Health Network), Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bayley
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (University Health Network), Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Toronto, ON, Canada; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada. Electronic address: wmcilroy@uwaterloo.ca.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: McIlroy
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D015897:Comorbidity; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
keywords: Delivery of health care; Exercise; Inpatients; Physical activity; Rehabilitation; Stroke