Ability to negotiate stairs predicts free-living physical activity in community-dwelling people with stroke: an observational study.

QUESTION Which clinical measures of walking performance best predict free-living physical activity in community-dwelling people with stroke? DESIGN Cross-sectional observational study. PARTICIPANTS 42 community-dwelling stroke survivors. OUTCOME MEASURES Predictors were four clinical measures of walking performance (speed, automaticity, capacity, and stairs ability). The outcome of interest was free-living physical activity, measured as frequency (activity counts) and duration (time on feet), collected using an activity monitor called the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Physical Activity. RESULTS Time on feet was predicted by stairs ability alone (B 166, 95% CI 55 to 278) which accounted for 48% of the variance. Activity counts were also predicted by stairs ability alone (B 6486, 95% CI 2922 to 10 050) which accounted for 58% of the variance. CONCLUSION The best predictor of free-living physical activity in community-dwelling people with stroke was stairs ability.