Self-reported physical activity more than 1 year after stroke and its determinants in relation to the WHO recommendations
- PMID: 39749623
- PMCID: PMC12065089
- DOI: 10.1002/pmrj.13297
Self-reported physical activity more than 1 year after stroke and its determinants in relation to the WHO recommendations
Abstract
Background: Physical activity (PA) after stroke has significant health benefits if it is conducted regularly, with sufficient intensity and duration. Because of the health benefits, it is important to identify those below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended level of PA. However, few studies have assessed the level of PA after stroke in relation to the WHO recommendations and which sociodemographic factors and stroke characteristics are associated with those below the WHO recommendations.
Objective: To assess survivors of stroke at least 1 year after onset and (1) describe their self-reported level of PA; (2) explore the association between PA, sociodemographics, and stroke characteristics, and (3) determine the characteristics of those below the WHO recommended level of PA.
Design: Cross-sectional descriptive survey.
Setting: Community settings.
Participants: Data were collected from 160 survivors of stroke (mean age 73 years, 46% women, mean time since stroke onset 35 months).
Interventions: Not applicable.
Main outcome measures: The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare Physical Activity Questionnaire and the following sociodemographics and stroke characteristics: gender, age, marital status, vocational situation, need for home help, use of mobility devices, time since stroke onset, first-time stroke, type of stroke, location of stroke, and stroke treatment.
Results: Two thirds (66.3%) of the participants were below the WHO recommendations. The hierarchical regression analysis explained 13% of the variance in PA with need for home help as a single significant contributor. Those who did not meet the WHO recommendations were significantly older, more likely to live alone, and in need of home help and mobility devices.
Conclusions: A majority of survivors of stroke do not meet the WHO recommended level of PA. Future studies should assess how other factors characterize those who are physically inactive. This knowledge could help rehabilitation professionals to target interventions and self-management programs to promote PA among survivors of stroke.
© 2025 The Author(s). PM&R published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Figures

Similar articles
-
Self-reported sleep disturbances and its determinants in people 1 year or more after stroke: A cross-sectional study.PM R. 2025 Jun;17(6):646-653. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.13329. Epub 2025 Feb 24. PM R. 2025. PMID: 39992070 Free PMC article.
-
Associations between objective and self-perceived physical activity and participation in everyday activities in mild stroke survivors.PLoS One. 2025 Apr 1;20(4):e0321047. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321047. eCollection 2025. PLoS One. 2025. PMID: 40168391 Free PMC article.
-
Early prediction of physical activity level 1 year after stroke: a longitudinal cohort study.BMJ Open. 2017 Aug 4;7(8):e016369. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016369. BMJ Open. 2017. PMID: 28780554 Free PMC article.
-
Physical activity in community-dwelling stroke survivors and a healthy population is not explained by motor function only.PM R. 2014 Feb;6(2):139-45. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2013.08.593. Epub 2013 Aug 23. PM R. 2014. PMID: 23978463
-
How should long-term free-living physical activity be targeted after stroke? A systematic review and narrative synthesis.Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2018 Oct 17;15(1):100. doi: 10.1186/s12966-018-0730-0. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2018. PMID: 30333027 Free PMC article.
References
-
- World Health Organization . World Report on Disability 2011. World Health Organization; 2011. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/44575
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical