Relative Aerobic Load of Daily Activities After Stroke.
Ilse J Blokland, Linda F A Schiphorst, Jessie R Stroek and 5 others
PMID 37172129WHAT IT FOUND
Stroke survivors expend a much higher percentage of their limited aerobic capacity on daily tasks like walking and sweeping than healthy peers, even when moving slower.
This suggests slow pace is a protective strategy against fatigue, not just a motor deficit.
Key findings
01Individuals after stroke performed daily activities at a significantly higher relative aerobic load than peers with no impairments, despite moving at a significantly slower pace.
02Relative aerobic loads for stroke survivors ranged from 39% to 82% of peak capacity across activities, compared to 38% to 66% for individuals with no impairments.
03Aerobic capacity (VO2 peak and VO2-VT) in individuals after stroke was significantly lower, averaging 54% to 63% of that in individuals with no impairments.
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 study included only individuals who could walk without manual assistance (FAC > 2) and perform a cardiopulmonary exercise test, excluding more severely impaired patients. The FAC 3 group was small (n=14) and likely represented higher-functioning individuals within that category, as many could not complete all activities. The control group consisted of volunteers who may have been fitter than the general population, potentially exaggerating the difference in aerobic capacity. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that aerobic training causes the observed improvements, only that the physiological strain exists.
Declared interests
No specific conflicts of interest or funding sources were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that increasing walking speed is the primary goal for all stroke survivors. For those with low aerobic capacity, forcing a faster pace may push them above their ventilatory threshold, leading to unsustainable fatigue and reduced participation, rather than improved function.