ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PRE-STROKE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOBILITY AND WALKING ABILITY IN THE EARLY SUBACUTE PHASE: A REGISTRY-BASED STUDY

OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between prestroke physical activity and mobility, walking ability, and self-perceived upper extremity function during stroke unit care. DESIGN: A longitudinal, registry-based study with a consecutively collected cohort. SUBJECTS/PATIENTS: A total of 1,092 adults with stroke admitted to 3 Swedish stroke units between 2017 and 2018. METHODS: Logistic mixed effects regression models were performed to investigate associations (adjusted for age and sex). Pre-stroke physical activity was assessed with Saltin-Grimby Physical Activity Level Scale on admission. Mobility, walking ability, and self-perceived upper extremity function were assessed at admission and discharge from the stroke units and compared between pre-stroke physically active (45%) and inactive (55%) groups. RESULTS: All groups of patients showed improvements in mobility (p < 0.001), walking ability (p < 0.001), and upper extremity function (p < 0.001). The changes over time tended to differ between the physically inactive and active groups for mobility (p < 0.062) and walking ability (p < 0.056), but the differences were not significant. CONCLUSION: Pre-stroke physically active people showed a tendency to be more independent in physical functioning early after stroke. Regardless of prestroke physical activity, all patients showed improvements in mobility, walking ability, and self-perceived upper extremity function during inpatient care.