Step Number and Aerobic Minute Exercise Prescription and Progression in Stroke: A Roadmap.
Sue Peters, Tara Klassen, Amy Schneeberg and 6 others
PMID 34949129WHAT IT FOUND
Step and aerobic minute targets for stroke rehab can be predicted from baseline walking speed and age.
A 65-year-old walking at 0.4 m/s is predicted to reach 2,696 steps and 27 aerobic minutes by session 20, but these targets need cross-validation.
Key findings
01Baseline walking speed predicts step number, with every 0.1 m/s increase associated with a predicted increase of 302 steps.
02Age predicts aerobic minutes, with every year increase associated with a predicted decrease of 0.39 minutes (23 seconds).
03The models were derived from a single group of 25 participants and have not been cross-validated.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The models are based on a small sample of 25 participants from a single trial arm. The analysis is a secondary modeling of existing data, not a primary efficacy trial of the targets themselves. The models have not been cross-validated, meaning their accuracy in new patients is unknown. The average age of participants (56 years) was younger than typical stroke populations, so targets may not apply to older adults.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. Funding was provided by Canadian government and non-profit health research bodies.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these predicted step and minute targets as proven therapeutic doses that guarantee improved walking outcomes. The models were built on a small sample of 25 people and have not been cross-validated, so they represent a hypothesis for future testing rather than established clinical guidelines.