Higher Light Activity Linked to Earlier Walking After Subacute Stroke

This prospective cohort study enrolled 389 patients with subacute stroke and limited walking ability at admission to rehabilitation wards across 11 facilities. Participants wore accelerometers for one week; the primary outcome was independent walking, defined as a Functional Ambulation Category score of at least 4, at one month. Mean age was 68.1 years, and 45% were women.

By follow-up, 113 participants had achieved independent walking. Each additional 5 minutes per day of high light-intensity physical activity (2.0–2.9 METs) was associated with a higher likelihood of independent walking (risk ratio, 1.067; 95% CI, 1.010–1.131). Low-intensity activity and moderate-to-vigorous activity were not associated with the outcome. Short bouts lasting 5 to under 10 minutes at 2.0 METs or higher were also associated with walking independence (risk ratio, 1.208; 95% CI, 1.060–1.375); bouts of 10 minutes or longer were not.

The findings describe activity patterns associated with early walking recovery during inpatient rehabilitation, but the observational design cannot show that these patterns cause improvement. The study did not test an activity-promotion intervention, so it does not establish a target or support changing rehabilitation practice on its own.