Article

Despite improvement in motor function after intervention, adults with
chronic stroke experience disability in everyday activity. Factors other than
motor function may influence affected upper limb (UL) activity. OBJECTIVE: To
characterize affected UL activity and examine potential modifying factors of
affected UL activity in community-dwelling adults with chronic stroke. METHODS:
Forty-six adults with chronic stroke wore accelerometers on both ULs for 25 hours
and provided information about potential modifying factors [time spent in
sedentary activity, cognitive impairment, depressive symptomatology, number of
comorbidities, motor dysfunction of the affected UL, age, activities of daily
living (ADL) status, and living arrangement]. Accelerometry was used to quantify
duration of affected and unaffected UL activity. The ratio of
affected-to-unaffected UL activity was also calculated. Associations within and
between accelerometry-derived variables and potential modifying factors were
examined. RESULTS: Mean hours of affected and unaffected UL activity were 5.0 +/-
2.2 and 7.6 +/- 2.1 hours respectively. The ratio of affected-to-unaffected UL
activity was 0.64 +/- 0.19, and hours of affected and unaffected UL activity were
strongly correlated (r = 0.78). Increased severity of motor dysfunction and
dependence in ADLs were associated with decreased affected UL activity. No other
factors were associated with affected UL activity. CONCLUSIONS: Severity of motor
dysfunction and ADL status should be taken into consideration when setting goals
for UL activity in people with chronic stroke.
Given the strong, positive
correlation between affected and unaffected UL activity, encouragement to
increase activity of the unaffected UL may increase affected UL activity.

Langue : ANGLAIS