Validation of Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) in Stroke Patients

The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) is a self-report questionnaire on exercise, home, and work-related physical activities performed during the last week. PASE has shown to be reliable and valid in different populations of people between 65 and 100 years of age and after stroke. However, its validation on stroke was based on another self report questionnaire that assess physical activity (PA) called ''Senior Fitness Test''. There are four methods to measure physical activity: 1. Self-Report Questionnaires 2.Self-Report Activity Diaries/Logs 3.Direct Observation 4. Devices (Accelerometers, pedometers, arm band, Heart-Rate Monitors). Accelerometers can measure PA accurately and have ability capture large amounts of data. Accelerometers measure acceleration (activity counts:AC) in real time and detect movement in up to three orthogonal planes (anteroposterior, mediolateral, and vertical) These counts are then translated into a metric of interest, which can be biological (e.g. energy expenditure) or PA patterns (e.g. stationary). There are pros and cons of measurement methods of physical activity. Strengths of accelerometers include minute-by-minute on-line monitoring, capturing intensity level. Accumulated AC provide an accurate estimate of the duration and intensity of body movement at the waist and were summed across the whole day to assess total PA volume. However, accelerometers are expensive and require technical expertise, specialized hardware, software, and individual programming. Self-report PA measurement methods are able to measure large numbers of participants at low cost. Since accelerometers are more objective methods to assess PA, to the best of our knowledge, self-report physical activity questionnaires should be validated based on accelerometer derived physical activity data. The aim of this study is to validate PASE in patients with stroke based on accelerometer data.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with first ever, unilateral stroke
• Patients with stroke who can walk independently or with an assistive device
• Being at between the ages of 40-80

Exclusion criteria

• Illiteracy
• Having severely impaired mental function and being unable to complete questionnaires
• Presence of neglect, demantia, apraxia
• Having uncontrolled hypertension, cardiopulmonary disease