Article ID: 26-E00043
Objectives: Early physical activity is recommended after stroke, but the intensity of activity most relevant to subsequent functional recovery remains unclear. This study examined whether accelerometer-derived, intensity-specific physical activity during the acute phase was associated with functional outcome 3 months after stroke. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data from patients with acute cerebral infarction or hemorrhage who were admitted to an acute care hospital within 48 hours of onset and subsequently transferred to a rehabilitation hospital. Physical activity was measured using a waist-worn triaxial accelerometer and classified as light-intensity physical activity (LPA; 1.5–3.0 metabolic equivalents) or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; ≥3.0 metabolic equivalents). The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to examine the associations of LPA and MVPA with the 3-month mRS score, adjusting for age, sex, pre-stroke mRS score, stroke severity, and monitor non-wear time. Results: Seventy-six patients were included. The median age was 77 years, and 40 patients were female. The median daily durations of LPA and MVPA were 68.5 and 3.7 min, respectively. Longer daily LPA duration was associated with a lower 3-month mRS score after adjustment (B = −0.004 per min/day, 95% confidence interval: −0.008 to −0.0002; p = 0.037), whereas MVPA was not associated with the outcome. Conclusions: Greater accumulation of early LPA was associated with a better 3-month functional outcome in patients with acute stroke. LPA may be a clinically relevant marker of functional recovery and should be examined in future intervention studies.
