Motivators and Barriers for Physical Activity in Patients With Minor Stroke

Little is known about motivators and barriers for physical activity after hospital discharge for patients with a minor stroke or TIA. These patients have few and temporary symptoms and are therefore discharged early from the hospital or seen in a outpatient TIA clinic. Standard treatment are preventive medication and advice on self-managed lifestyle changes. Occurrence of one ischemic stroke or TIA predisposes to further ischemic strokes and patients are at risk of developing cognitive deficits or vascular dementia over time unless multiple preventive measures are taken including physical activity. The purpose is to investigate motivators and barriers for physical activity after hospital discharge by focus-group interviewing this potential fragile group of patients. The research team want to facilitate the patients to be physically active and thereby prevent a recurrent stroke and slow the progression of vascular diseases.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) without the need of a re-habilitation plan, but needs an exercise plan in order to prevent a recurrent stroke
• Patients who have participated in ≤ 1 hour of vigorous intensity activity on weekly basis within the last 3 months
• Patients able to speak, read, and understand Danish
• Patients ≥ 18 years of age and able to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with previous large artery stroke with sequelae preventing aerobic exercise in groups
• Symptoms or comorbidities preventing aerobic exercise in groups
• Dyspnoea caused by heart or lung diseases (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD))
• Aphasia or dementia interfering with participation in aerobic groups exercise
• Patients with Intermittent claudication/vascular claudication