According to the authors of recent research from Greenville, North Carolina, 'The association between physical activity and quality of life in stroke survivors has not been analyzed within a framework related to the human development index. This study aimed to identify differences in physical activity level and in the quality of life of stroke survivors in two cities differing in economic aspects of the human development index.'
'Two groups of subjects who had suffered a stroke at least a year prior to testing and showed hemiplegia or hemiparesis were studied: a group from Belo Horizonte (BH) with 48 people (51.5 +/- 8.7 years) and one from Montes Claros (MC) with 29 subjects (55.4 +/- 8.1 years). Subsequently, regardless of location, the groups were divided into Active and Insufficiently Active so their difference in terms of quality of life could be analyzed. There were no significant differences between BH and MCG when it came to four dimensions of physical health that were evaluated (physical functioning, physical aspect, pain and health status) or in the following four dimensions of mental health status (vitality, social aspect, emotional aspect and mental health). However, significantly higher mean values were found in Active when compared with Insufficiently Active individuals in various measures of physical health (physical functioning 56.2 +/- 4.4 vs. 47.4 +/- 6.9; physical aspect 66.5 +/- 6.5 vs. 59.1 +/- 6.7; pain 55.9 +/- 6.2 vs. 47.7 +/- 6.0; health status 67.2 +/- 4.2 vs. 56.6 +/- 7.8) (arbitrary units), and mental health (vitality 60.9 +/- 6.8 vs. 54.1 +/- 7.2; social aspect 60.4 +/- 7.1 vs. 54.2 +/- 7.4; emotional aspect 64.0 +/- 5.5 vs. 58.1 +/- 6.9; mental health status 66.2 +/- 5.5 vs. 58.4 +/- 7.5) (arbitrary units). Despite the difference between the cities concerning HDI values, no significant differences in quality of life were found between BH and MCG,' wrote F.J. Aidar and colleagues, East Carolina University (see also Mental Health).
The researchers concluded: 'However, the Active group showed significantly better results, confirming the importance of active lifestyle to enhance quality of life in stroke survivors.'
Aidar and colleagues published their study in Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (The influence of the level of physical activity and human development in the quality of life in survivors of stroke. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2011;9():1-6).
For additional information, contact F.J. Aidar, East Carolina University, Dept. of Physiol, Greenville, NC, United States.
Publisher contact information for the journal Health and Quality of Life Outcomes is: Biomedical Central Ltd, 236 Grays Inn Rd., Floor 6, London WC1X 8HL, England.
Keywords: City:Greenville, State:North Carolina, Country:United States, Region:North and Central America
This article was prepared by Mental Health Weekly Digest editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Mental Health Weekly Digest via NewsRx.com.
