Disputas Petra Larsson

Tittel på avhandling: Physical fitness, physical activity and fatigue after stroke

Tid og sted: 27. juni kl.13.15 Rikke Nissen Auditorium Lovisenberg Diakonale Sykehus, Lovisenberggata 21.

Prøveforelesningen med tittel, The Association Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Physical Activity, and the Risk of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia, avholdes samme sted kl. 10:15

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Sammendrag av avhandlingen:

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) affects approximately 50% of stroke survivors. It is reported to hinder rehabilitation and has been linked to reduced quality of life. The underlying mechanisms are not well understood, but physical deconditioning and low levels of physical activity have been proposed as contributing factors. Increased knowledge of how PSF is related to physical fitness and physical activity may help in developing targeted exercise interventions to reduce fatigue.

The aim of this thesis was to explore associations between PSF, physical fitness, and physical activity. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, along with two observational studies. The observational studies included patients from the longitudinal Norwegian Study of Fatigue after Stroke (NORFAST). We analyzed cross-sectional data at three months post-stroke and longitudinal data between 3 and 12 months. Measurements included cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, accelerometer-based physical activity (steps and time in moderate-to-vigorous activity), and PSF assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale.

The systematic review found a weak association between higher PSF and lower physical fitness, and no consistent association with physical activity. The cross-sectional study showed that lower cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with higher PSF three months after stroke. The longitudinal study found that an increase in lean body mass between 3 and 12 months after stroke was associated with reductions in PSF during the same period.

In summary, we found weak but consistent associations between PSF and physical fitness, and no clear association between PSF and physical activity. Randomized controlled trials should be conducted to investigate whether exercise interventions aimed at improving cardiorespiratory fitness and increasing lean body mass can help reduce fatigue.