Approaches to Promote Reduction in Sedentary Behavior in Patients With Minor Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether an approach that promotes reduction in sedentary behavior (SB) during hospitalization and after hospital discharge reduces SB in patients with minor ischemic stroke (MIS) compared with an approach that promotes an increase in physical activity levels. Design: Randomized controlled trial design. Setting: During hospitalization and after hospital discharge. Participants: We randomly assigned patients (N=61) with MIS (average age, 71.3 +/- 8.3y; 65.6% men) admitted to an acute hospital to either the intervention group (reduced SB, n=31) or the control group (increased physical activity levels, n=30). Interventions: During hospitalization, the intervention group received education on reducing SB, goal setting for SB after hospital discharge, and self-monitoring of SB and step count. In contrast, the control group received education on increasing physical activity levels and self-monitoring of step count. Patients in both groups wore an accelerometer during hospitalization until 3 months after hospital discharge. The intervention group received self-monitoring of SB and step count, stickers including information about reducing their SB, and phone calls once every 2 weeks for encouragement and feedback. The control group only wore the accelerometer. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was SB (in percentage) at 3 months after hospital discharge. Results: There was an interaction between the 2 groups for SB. Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed a significantly reduced SB (intervention group: baseline, 70.5%; 3 months after hospital discharge, 48.6%; control group: baseline, 71.5%; 3 months after hospital discharge, 57.5%; F value=5.981; P=.018). Conclusions: The results suggested that an approach that promotes SB reduction during hospitalization and after hospital discharge is effective in reducing SB in patients with MIS 3 months after hospital discharge. (C) 2021 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine