Background: Beneficial physical activity behaviours can improve risk of recurrent stroke and fatigue after stroke.
Aims: To determine the feasibility of a 6-week device-based behaviour change intervention to increase physical activity and reduce systolic pressure and fatigue severity after subacute stroke.
Methods: Sixteen people(age:59.9 SD 20 years, 50% male) were recruited within 1-month of stroke and randomised to an intervention(n=8) or control group(n=8). The intervention group received a sixweek behaviour change intervention with real-time feedback and behaviour change strategies targeting beneficial physical activity behaviours. The control group received a dose-matched intervention. Feasibility of the study was determined by measures of recruitment, assessment and intervention (e.g. enrolment, measurement duration, adherence, adverse events and satisfaction).Potential effect of the intervention was determined by changes in beneficial physical activity (steps/day and time in moderateto-vigorous activity (MVPA), measured via the ActivPALTM), systolic blood pressure and fatigue at baseline, post-intervention and 1-month follow-up.Descriptive statistics determined feasibility, andrepeated measures ANOVA explored potential efficacy(ACTRN12617000746336).
Results: The intervention was feasible, with 92% of sessions delivered, and sessions taking onehour. All participants perceived the intervention to be useful. The intervention group showed a trend for increasing daily steps by 1639(95%CI -6862 to 3584) and 2106(95%CI -1406 to 5618) steps and time in MVPA by 18(95%CI –16 to 51) and 16(95%CI -11 to 43) minutes at post-intervention and follow-up respectively when compared to the control group. There intervention group showed a trend for decreasing systolic blood pressure by 13(95%CI -6 to 31) and 4(95%CI -11 to 19) mmHG and fatigue severity by 3 (95% CI 1 to 4) and 3 (95%CI 2 to 5) at post-intervention and follow-up respectively when compared to the control group.
Conclusion: A six-week device-based behaviour change intervention is feasible, and potentially effective in increasing beneficial physical activity and reducing systolic blood pressure and fatigue poststroke.