Correlations between aerobic exercise time during physiotherapy and characteristics of patients with subacute stroke: A pilot cross-sectional study

Background The amount of aerobic exercise time (AET) is an important factor for improving physical function in patients with stroke. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the factors for AET during physiotherapy, particularly in stroke patients. Objective To investigate the correlation between AET during physiotherapy and characteristics of patients with subacute stroke. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 61 hospitalized subacute stroke patients (age = 72 (11) years, (median (interquartile range)) were enrolled and their exercise intensity was measured by wearable sensors (Mio Alpha 2) worn during physiotherapy sessions. All patients were divided into two groups, non-ambulatory group (functional ambulation classification (FAC); 0-2) and ambulatory group (FAC; 3-5). The correlations between AET and patient characteristics were assessed in each group. Results There was no significant difference in AET between the ambulatory and non-ambulatory groups (9 (12) min vs 5 (10) min, p = .27, respectively). There was a significant correlation between AET and the functional independent measures (FIM) motor score in the ambulatory group (r = 0.52, p = .005), and between AET and the FIM cognitive score in the non-ambulatory group (r = 0.44, p = .008). Conclusion Correlations between AET and patient characteristics were different according to ambulation capacity in patients with subacute stroke.