Association between impairments, self-care ability and social activities 1 year after stroke

Purpose: To explore how motor and cognitive impairments relate to physical activities of daily living (PADL) and social activities after stroke. Method: The data related to 65 patients (mean age 74.4 years, 43% females), assessed 1 year after stroke by means of the Sodring Motor Evaluation of Stroke patients and the Assessment of Stroke and other Brain damage instruments. The self-care and social activities scales applied were the Barthel ADL Index and the Frenchay Activities Index (FAI). The association between impairment variables on the one hand and PADL and FAI scores on the other was estimated using Kendall rank correlations. Results: Arm motor function correlated most strongly with the Barthel score (tau=0.76), and visuospatial function came second (tau=0.58). Factor analysis of the FAI produced three subscales: a 'domestic' factor most strongly related to arm motor function (tau=0.49); 'outdoor' related to visuospatial ability (tau=0.48); and 'hobby' which had no significant correlates. Conclusion: In the chronic phase of stroke, self-care and involvement in social activities relate most strongly to arm motor function and visuospatial ability. Outdoor activities depend mainly on visuospatial function.