Arm Impairment And Walking Speed Explain Real-Life Activity Of The Affected Arm And Leg After Stroke

Objective: To determine to what extent accelerometer-based arm, leg and trunk activity is associated with sensorimotor impairments, walking capacity and other factors in subacute stroke.Design: Cross-sectional study.Patients: Twenty-six individuals with stroke (mean age 55.4 years, severe to mild motor impairment).Methods: Data on daytime activity were collected over a period of 4 days from accelerometers placed on the wrists, ankles and trunk. A forward stepwise linear regression was used to determine associations between free-living activity, clinical and demographic variables.Results: Arm motor impairment (Fugl-Meyer Assessment) and walking speed explained more than 60% of the variance in daytime activity of the more-affected arm, while walking speed alone explained 60% of the more-affected leg activity. Activity of the less-affected arm and leg was associated with arm motor impairment (R-2=0.40) and independence in walking (R-2 =0.59). Arm activity ratio was associated with arm impairment (R-2 =0.63) and leg activity ratio with leg impairment (R-2 =0.38) and walking speed (R-2 =0.27). Walking-related variables explained approximately 30% of the variance in trunk activity.Conclusion: Accelerometer-based free-living activity is dependent on motor impairment and walking capacity. The most relevant activity data were obtained from more-affected limbs. Motor impairment and walking speed can provide some information about real-life daytime activity levels.