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The Relationship Between Physical Fitness and Work Integration Following Stroke

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Michael Schönberger ,
Niels R. Hansen ,
Daniel T. Pedersen ,
Peter Zeeman  and
Jørgen Roed Jørgensen
Michael Schönberger*
Affiliation:
Department of Rehabilitation Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Germany; School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Australia; Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Epworth Hospital, Australia. michael.schoenberger@psychologie.uni-freiburg.de
Niels R. Hansen
Affiliation:
Pearson Assessment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Daniel T. Pedersen
Affiliation:
Center for Rehabilitation of Brain Injury, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Peter Zeeman
Affiliation:
Center for Rehabilitation of Brain Injury, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jørgen Roed Jørgensen
Affiliation:
Center for Rehabilitation of Brain Injury, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
*
*Address for correspondence: Michael Schönberger, PhD, Department of Rehabilitation Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Engelberger Str. 41, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
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Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between physical fitness and work integration following stroke. Design: Single-group study, measurement of physical fitness pre and post physical training, measurement of employment status in a follow-up assessment 2 to 36 months after rehabilitation. Setting: Interdisciplinary outpatient rehabilitation program. Participants: 58 stroke survivors (62% male, mean age at program start 46.7 years, mean time since stroke 1.1 years) who were consecutively referred to the program. Intervention: 1½ hours of intensive training of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength 1–3 times weekly as part of the 3-month program. Measures: Physical fitness was measured with a modified Harvard Step Test, the Åstrand Cycling Test, and walking/running speed. The type of participants' employment as well as the amount of working hours was registered. Results: Good physical fitness as measured by the Harvard Step test, but not the Åstrand Cycling Test and walking/running speed, was related to return to competitive, full-time employment. Test results from training tended to predict work reintegration better than test results from training start. Improvement of physical fitness as measured by the Harvard Step Test was also related to follow-up employment. Conclusions: The results imply a relationship between physical fitness and work integration following stroke and should be confirmed with a randomised controlled study design.

Keywords

strokephysical fitnessexercise therapyphysiotherapyrehabilitationemployment outcome
Type
Articles
Information
Brain Impairment , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , 01 December 2010 , pp. 262 - 269
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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