Association of Care Time with Physical Activity in Patients with Stroke.

PURPOSE To estimate the association between morning and evening care and the duration of physical activity in patients with stroke.

DESIGN Multicenter cross-sectional study.

METHODS Physical activity of patients with stroke from five rehabilitation hospitals was measured using an accelerometer. Four datasets relative to activity time periods (7:00-20:00, 9:00-20:00, 7:00-18:00, and 9:00-18:00) were compared, and measurement error was assessed using the absolute percentage error (APE) relative to the 7:00-20:00 reference dataset.

RESULTS The final analysis included 245 patients (median age 71 y). Median sedentary behavior, light intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during the 7:00-20:00 reference period were 644.7, 130.0, and 3.9 minutes per day, respectively. Based on the reference period of 07:00-20:00, the APE for LPA and MVPA was highest during 07:00-18:00 (LPA: 21.6; MVPA: 24.2), followed by 09:00-20:00 (LPA: 11.5; MVPA: 11.2) and 09:00-18:00 (LPA: 9.9; MVPA: 10.5).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE TO THE PRACTICE OF REHABILITATION NURSING Rehabilitation nurses should be aware that nursing care and self-care are key opportunities for patients to engage in physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS Morning and evening care periods represent relevant physical activity times for survivors of stroke in rehabilitation hospitals.