Relationship of Functional Outcome With Sarcopenia and Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Patients With Stroke Undergoing Rehabilitation

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship of Functional Independence Measure for motor function (FIM-M) with sarcopenia, and physical activity in patients with stroke undergoing rehabilitation. This cross-sectional study included patients with stroke at a single convalescent rehabilitation hospital. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Physical activity was measured as the duration of light-intensity physical activity and moderate to vigorous physical activity using a triaxial accelerometer. Of 80 patients (median age: 72.0 years), 46 (57.5%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. In multivariate linear regression analysis, FIM-M score was significantly associated with sarcopenia (β = −0.15, p = .043) and light-intensity physical activity (β = 0.55, p < .001). In another model, FIM-M score was significantly associated with moderate to vigorous physical activity (β = 0.27, p = .002) but not with sarcopenia. This study demonstrated that FIM-M was partially associated with sarcopenia and associated with physical activity regardless of intensity in patients with stroke.