Reference Values of Outdoor Activities of Stroke Patients Discharged to Home: Investigation of Physical Factors at Discharge

Abstract

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the most appropriate pre-discharge physical parameters and its cut-off value for predicting post-discharge outdoor activities in stroke patients receiving rehabilitation. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 31 stroke patients hospitalized rehabilitation who could walk independently and discharged home. The Life Space Assessment (LSA) was used to differentiate between indoor and outdoor groups. Among the pre-discharge physical parameters showing significant relationships with LSA values at 3 months after discharge, the most closely correlated one was determined and its cut-off value was calculated. [Results] Six-minute walking distance (6MWD) had the highest ability to predict post-discharge outdoor activities and its cut-off value was 358.5 m. [Conclusion] The results suggest that stroke patients’ rehabilitation should target a 6MWD of 350 m or longer in order to enable comfortable outdoor activities after discharge.