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. 2020 Sep 16;20(1):348.
doi: 10.1186/s12883-020-01920-z.

Recovery of mobility function and life-space mobility after ischemic stroke: the MOBITEC-Stroke study protocol

R Rössler  1   2 , S A Bridenbaugh  2 , S T Engelter  3   4 , R Weibel  5 , D Infanger  1 , E Giannouli  1 , A Sofios  5 , L Iendra  3   4 , E Portegijs  6 , T Rantanen  6 , L Streese  1 , H Hanssen  1 , R Roth  1 , A Schmidt-Trucksäss  1 , N Peters  3   4   7 , T Hinrichs  8
Affiliations

Recovery of mobility function and life-space mobility after ischemic stroke: the MOBITEC-Stroke study protocol

R Rössler et al. BMC Neurol. .

Abstract

Background: Stroke is a major cause of disability and stroke incidence increases with age. Stroke frequently results in permanent limitations of mobility, and, consequently, the need for the help of others in activities of daily living. In order to optimize rehabilitative efforts and their functional outcomes, detailed knowledge of the functional recovery process, regarding mobility, is needed. Objectives of the MOBITEC-Stroke study are: 1.) To characterize mobility, including lower extremity physical function (LEPF) and life space (the geospatial extent of all of a person's movements), and changes in mobility within the first year after stroke. 2.) To identify and characterize subgroups with different mobility trajectories. 3.) To evaluate whether changes in LEPF are associated with changes in life-space. 4.) To evaluate participants' reasons for going outdoors, transportation use, and assistance needed for outdoor movement.

Methods: Patients with incident first stroke who live in their own homes (target N = 59, based on sample size calculation) will be included in this cohort study. At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after stroke a battery of mobility tests will be performed at the study centre, including laboratory-based tests of balance and strength, and quantitative gait analysis. Life-space assessment (including 1-week GPS measurements) will be performed in participants' real life. Semantic information on visited locations (reasons for going outdoors, transportation use, assistance needed) will be collected by using interactive digital maps. Linear mixed effects models will be used to model the trajectories of mobility measures for the total sample and for predefined subgroups. As an exploratory analysis, growth mixture models (GMMs) will be used to identify relevant subgroups with different trajectories. Linear mixed effect models will be used to test whether changes in LEPF parameters are associated with changes in life-space. Participants' motivation for going outdoors, transportation use, and assistance needed for outdoor mobility will be analysed descriptively.

Discussion: A comprehensive and detailed knowledge of recovery patterns will enable the planning of targeted and adaptively tailored rehabilitation measures. Information about patients' reasons for outdoor mobility will provide the opportunity to define individualized and patient-oriented rehabilitation goals.

Trial registration: ISRCTN85999967 (on 13 August 2020; retrospectively).

Keywords: Accelerometers; Aging; Cohort study; GPS; Mobility limitation; Quality of life; Quantitative gait analysis; Spatial behaviour; Walking speed.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study timeline. Laboratory assessments of lower extremity physical function (LEPF) and subsequent ambulatory 1-week assessments of life-space (LS) take place at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after ischemic stroke
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Required sample sizes for a statistical power of 80% assuming various correlations between time points within subjects
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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