Article

Objectives: To investigate the utility of a novel microprocessor-
linked Step Watch Activity Monitor (SAM) to quantify
ambulatory activity after stroke and to evaluate the validity and
reliability of conventional accelerometers to measure freeliving
physical activity in this population.
Design: Cross-sectional with repeated measures of 2 separate
48-hour recordings in 17 persons wearing an anklemounted
SAM and Caltrac, a hip-mounted mechanical accelerometer.
Setting: Home and community.
Participants: Seventeen subjects with chronic hemiparetic
gait after stroke.
Interventions: Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures: The SAM derived stride counts
per day and Caltrac estimated the daily caloric expenditure of
physical activity.
Results: SAM data revealed that stroke patients had a mean
strides per day
standard deviation of 3035
1944 and demonstrated
a broad range of daily activity profiles (400­6472
strides). SAM test-retest reliability was high across separate
monitoring periods (r.96, P.001). Although Caltrac also
revealed a broad range of daily activity calories
(346
217kcal/d; range, 83­1222kcal/d), reliability was poor
(r.044, Pnot significant) and Caltrac accounted for only
64% of the ambulatory activity quantified by the SAM.
Conclusions: Microprocessor-linked accelerometer monitoring,
but not conventional accelerometers, are accurate and
highly reliable for quantifying ambulatory activity levels in
stroke patients. These findings support the utility of personal
status monitoring of ambulatory activity as an outcomes instrument
and metric in programs to increase physical activity and
cardiovascular health after stroke.

Langue : ANGLAIS