Relationships Among Environmental Variables, Physical Capacity, Balance Self-Efficacy, and Real-World Walking Activity Post-Stroke.
Allison Miller, Ryan T Pohlig, Darcy S Reisman
PMID 35924968WHAT IT FOUND
Living in a more deprived neighborhood was linked to fewer daily steps after stroke.
This link was partly explained by lower balance confidence. Physical capacity did not change this relationship, and living situation showed no association.
Key findings
01Higher area deprivation was associated with lower real-world walking activity (steps/day).
02Balance self-efficacy mediated the relationship between area deprivation and walking activity.
03Physical capacity did not moderate the mediation model, meaning the relationship held for both higher and lower capacity groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that deprivation causes lower confidence or less walking. The 'social environment' was measured only by living situation, which may not capture broader social support or connectedness. The 'physical environment' was measured by the Area Deprivation Index, which is a proxy for built environment quality rather than a direct measurement of sidewalks or parks. Participants had to walk at least 0.3 m/s without assistance, so results do not apply to those with more severe mobility impairments or cerebellar stroke. Physical capacity was split at the median (312 meters), which may not reflect clinically meaningful thresholds for capacity.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that living alone or with family affects walking activity. The study found no significant relationship between living situation and steps per day, so clinical decisions should not be based on this factor alone.