Enhanced Street Crossing Features are Associated with Higher Post-Stroke Physical Quality of Life.
Erica Twardzik, Philippa J Clarke, Lynda D Lisabeth and 4 others
PMID 35924680WHAT IT FOUND
Living near street crossings with better features (like curb cuts) was associated with higher physical quality of life after stroke.
Sidewalk quality and nearby destinations showed no such link. This suggests accessible crossings are a specific environmental target for post-stroke recovery.
Key findings
01In the fully adjusted model, living near crossings with 'some' features was associated with 4.90 points higher physical quality of life compared to crossings with 'few' features.
02Features of the street segment (e.g. sidewalks) and the route (e.g. nearby destinations) were not significantly associated with post-stroke physical quality of life.
03The association between crossing features and quality of life was similar in magnitude to the difference between having a mild stroke versus a moderate or severe stroke.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample consisted of community-dwelling adults over 45, which is a healthier group of stroke survivors, so results may not apply to those with more severe impairments or those living in institutions. Most participants (91.2%) had mild strokes, making it impossible to determine if environmental features affect those with moderate or severe strokes differently. The study was observational, so it shows an association but cannot prove that improving crossings causes better quality of life. Environmental features were audited using Google Street View imagery from 2020, which may not reflect the exact conditions participants experienced during the earlier post-stroke assessment periods. Household income was measured at baseline and may have changed during the follow-up period, potentially affecting the adjustment for socioeconomic status.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that fixing sidewalks or adding nearby destinations will improve a stroke survivor's physical quality of life. The study found no association for these features; only the quality of street crossings was linked to better outcomes.