Fitness And Functioning After Stroke / Fitheid en Functioneren na een Beroerte

Rationale:

People after stroke often have a lower aerobic capacity than their able-bodied peers. On top of that, the aerobic load of daily activities appears to be higher in this patient group. Often, these issues are investigated separately, but the actual impact on daily functioning can only be perceived when they are considered jointly. Currently, reference values on aerobic load of daily activities for people after stroke are not available. Furthermore, the relationship between aerobic load and aerobic capacity; the relative aerobic load, has not been quantified. It can be expected that people with a high (predicted) relative aerobic load of daily activities will either experience more fatigue in daily life or be less active. This fatigue or inactivity can have a large impact on daily life and participation in the community.

Objective:

This study will provide reference values for the (relative) aerobic load of daily activities for people after stroke. Furthermore, it will assess the impact of relative aerobic load on daily life activity levels for people after stroke.



Study design:

This study consists of a cross-sectional study assessing the (relative) aerobic load of different types of daily activities. A second observational study will assess the relationship between predicted relative load of daily activities and activity levels and experienced fatigue in daily life.

Study population:

Adult people after stroke and healthy volunteers of the same age and gender.

Main study parameters/endpoints:

This study will assess the absolute and relative aerobic load of various daily activities for people that have experienced a stroke. For this purpose, oxygen consumption will be measured during these activities and during a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test.

Furthermore, activity levels in daily life will be assessed through activity monitoring and the relationship between activity level, fatigue and relative aerobic load will be determined.

This study aims to provide a compendium of reference values of absolute aerobic loads of daily activities for people after stroke. Additionally, it will provide insight in the importance of aerobic fitness for daily living. Our study results will help caretakers and people after stroke to evaluate the aerobic fitness and the impact on their daily life. With the provided study results it can be determined whether the aerobic fitness is limiting daily life and if so, training goals can be set with specific daily activities in mind.

N/A

Participants in the Experiment A will perform various activities of daily life on a maximum of two days, each visit lasting a maximum of 2.5 hours. During these activities oxygen uptake will be measured by means of breath by breath respirometry using a mobile device.

Able-bodied control subjects will perform a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) prior to the daily activity measurements. Stroke subjects will perform a CPET as part of clinical practice prior to participation. On the first of these visits, they will fill in questionnaires on their functional status and participation.

Participants in Experiment B will be instructed to wear an activity monitor during five consecutive days. The instruction visit lasts approximately 1 hour.