Association between impairments, self-care ability and social activities 1year 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 S troke patients and the Assessment of Stroke and other Brain damage instrume nts. The self-care and social activities scales applied were the Barthel AD L Index and the Frenchay Activities Index (FAI). The association between im pairment 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 an alysis of the FAI produced three subscales: a 'domestic' factor most strong ly related to arm motor function (tau = 0.49):'outdoor' related to visuospa tial ability (tau = 0.48); and 'hobby' which had no significant correlates. Conclusion: In the chronic phase of stroke, self-care and involvement in so cial activities relate most strongly to arm motor function and visuospatial ability. Outdoor activities depend mainly on visuospatial function.