Physical activity levels of a primary health care users: comparisons between healthy subjects and subjects with stroke

Subjects with stroke have a low physical activity level which may lead to recurrence of stroke events, occurrence of other cardiovascular diseases and increase of disabilities. The maintenance of an adequate physical activity level is associated with improvements on functionality and health of these subjects. Objective: To compare the physical activity levels of subjects with stroke and matched healthy subjects from a Primary Health Care unit. Method: Subjects with stroke (G1; n = 37) from a Primary Health Care unit, with clinical conditions to answer a questionnaire, and healthy matched subjects (G2; n = 37), from the same unit, were assessed for physical activity level by the Human Activity Profile (HAP) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, t-test student, chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test were used for analysis (α = 0.05). Results: The groups were similar in age, sex and exercise level (p>0.05). There was a significant difference between groups on HAP (0.001≤p≤0.011). Conclusion: Individuals with stroke are worse classified and have worse scores on physical activities levels of the HAP, when compared to matched healthy individuals.