Review Article

Physical Activity after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 2

Characteristics and results of studies using only self-reported measures of physical activity.

Reference and setting DesignParticipants
Time since stroke Measure of physical activity Level of physical activity Study quality (out of 20)
Sex (M = male; F = female)Age (yr)

Boysen et al. [16] and Lindahl et al. [23] Multicentre, multinational, randomised clinical trial Intervention: M = 89; F = 68.
Controls: M = 88; F = 69.
Intervention: median = 69.7; IQR = (60.0–77.7)
Control: median = 69.4; IQR = (59.6–75.8)
<90 days of stroke symptoms + follow up at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 monthsSelf-reported PASE* (range 0–400) (physical activity in preceding seven days)
Collected in the week prior to stroke and at each followup time
Median PASE scores range between 3–24 months (control group: 64–68)18

Danielsson et al. [17, 18]Cross-sectionalM = 22; F = 9.Mean = 59.7 (SD = 8.1, range = 36–73)Mean = 8.5 yrs (SD = 0.9)Self-reported PASE* (physical activity in preceding seven days)Mean PASE score = 124 (SD = 67, range = 31–241)15

Pang et al. [33, 34]Randomised Controlled TrialIntervention:
M = 19; F = 13.
Controls:
M = 18; F = 13.
Intervention: mean = 65.8 (SD = 9.1);
Control:
mean = 64.7 (SD = 8.4)
Intervention: mean = 5.2 (SD = 5.0);
Control: mean = 5.1 (SD = 3.6)
Self-reported PASIPD (max. score 199.5 MET h/d) (physical activity in preceding seven days)Baseline Physical Activity Level (MET h/d out of 199.5): intervention: mean = 7.9 (SD = 7.8); control: mean = 10.6 (SD = 9.8) (there was no significant difference between intervention and controls)14

Teixeira-Salmela et al. [40]Cross-sectional Stroke:
M = 13; F = 11.
Control:
M = 8; F = 15.
Stroke:
mean = 63.69 (SD = 11.57, range = 39–84.5).
Control:
mean = 65.52 (SD = 6.35, range = 39–85)
2.03 yrs (SD = 2.41, range = 4 months to 8 years)Self-reported HAP (adjusted score measures average typical metabolic equivalent levels (MET) in a day based on energy expended in a variety of activities)Stroke survivors adjusted HAP score: self-reported: mean = 52.79 (SD = 16.18, range = 25–84) observed: mean = 52.79 (SD = 16.12, range = 25–83) proxy: mean = 47.96 (SD = 18.69, range = 17–88)15

Teixeira-Salmela et al. [41]Randomised pretest posttest control group designTotal: M = 7;
F = 6
Total: mean = 67.73 (SD = 9.2)Total: mean = 7.67 yrs (SD = 9.42, range = 1–34)Self-reported HAP (see above)Baseline adjusted HAP score: mean = 52.31 (SD = 13.28)14

Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly; Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities; Human Activity Profile.