The Relationship Between Physical Fitness and Work Integration Following Stroke

Objective: To investigate the relationship between physical fitness and work integration following stroke. Design: Single-group study, measurement of physical fitness pre and post physical training, measurement of employment status in a follow-up assessment 2 to 36 months after rehabilitation. Setti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain impairment 2010-12, Vol.11 (3), p.262-269
Main Authors: Schönberger, Michael, Hansen, Niels R., Pedersen, Daniel T., Zeeman, Peter, Jørgensen, Jørgen Roed
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cardiovascular system
Cerebrovascular disease
Employees
Employment
employment outcome
Exercise
exercise therapy
Health and hygiene
Health aspects
Muscle strength
Patients
Physical fitness
physiotherapy
Quality of work life
Rehabilitation
Statistics
Stroke
Testing
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Summary:Objective: To investigate the relationship between physical fitness and work integration following stroke. Design: Single-group study, measurement of physical fitness pre and post physical training, measurement of employment status in a follow-up assessment 2 to 36 months after rehabilitation. Setting: Interdisciplinary outpatient rehabilitation program. Participants: 58 stroke survivors (62% male, mean age at program start 46.7 years, mean time since stroke 1.1 years) who were consecutively referred to the program. Intervention: 1½ hours of intensive training of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength 1–3 times weekly as part of the 3-month program. Measures: Physical fitness was measured with a modified Harvard Step Test, the Åstrand Cycling Test, and walking/running speed. The type of participants' employment as well as the amount of working hours was registered. Results: Good physical fitness as measured by the Harvard Step test, but not the Åstrand Cycling Test and walking/running speed, was related to return to competitive, full-time employment. Test results from training tended to predict work reintegration better than test results from training start. Improvement of physical fitness as measured by the Harvard Step Test was also related to follow-up employment. Conclusions: The results imply a relationship between physical fitness and work integration following stroke and should be confirmed with a randomised controlled study design.
ISSN:1443-9646
1839-5252
DOI:10.1375/brim.11.3.262