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Purpose: Post-stroke fatigue is a research priority for stroke survivors and health professionals but there is limited evidence to guide management. We aimed to explore (1) the experience of post-stroke fatigue from the perspective of stroke survivors and their caregivers and (2) fatigue management strategies that are used. Materials and methods: This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. People with self-reported post-stroke fatigue and caregivers were recruited using maximum variation sampling. Analysis was done via the framework approach. Results: We recruited 17 stroke survivors, nine male (53%), most under 65 years (n = 12, 76%), and greater than 1-year post-stroke (n = 16, 94%, range 10-months to 22-years). One-third of participants self-reported having aphasia (n = 5, 36%). We also recruited eight caregivers, most of whom were female (n = 7, 88%). We identified four themes: (1) fatigue is unexpected after stroke and symptoms vary; (2) the individual experience of fatigue is complex, influenced by multifactorial and biopsychosocial factors; (3) learning to adapt and accept fatigue; and (4) Strategies to manage fatigue and personal approaches to rest. Conclusions: Post-stroke fatigue experience varies presenting cognitively, physically, and psychologically according to a complex interplay of biopsychosocial factors and personal triggers. Self-management strategies are individualised and include organisation, medications, lifestyle modifications, and peer support. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Post-stroke fatigue is a complex individual experience involving biopsychosocial factors, and stroke survivors need assistance to identify their triggers and support from family, peers, and the stroke community to live well with fatigue. Fatigue is not commonly discussed by health professionals and stroke survivors need simple, practical advice over the long-term to reduce fear and distress. There are a range of strategies that may be helpful. Stroke survivors may benefit from adopting problem-solving approaches, trial pacing, lifestyle modifications and planning, and find forms of rest that work for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: High amounts of sedentary behavior increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to determine the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of the RISE intervention to support community-dwelling people with stroke, who are highly sedentary, to reduce and interrupt sedentary time. Additionally, the added value of including participatory support was determined. Methods: A randomized, multiple-baseline study was conducted including 14 participants. All received the RISE intervention, a 15-week blended behavioral intervention in which a primary care physiotherapist provided personalized coaching in the home setting by using behavior-change techniques and the RISE eCoaching system, including an activity monitor and app to provide real time feedback. Half of the participants (randomly allocated) received participatory support from someone from their social network (e.g., partner or close friend) who joined them in the intervention. Preliminary effectiveness was determined with significant changes in total sedentary time and fragmentation (interruption) of sedentary time using a randomization test. Feasibility was assessed by adherence with the intervention protocol, safety, and satisfaction with the intervention. Results: Participants significantly reduced total sedentary time (p = 0.01) by 1.3 h on average and increased their fragmentation (p < 0.01). Subgroup analyses showed significant improvements in both outcomes only in the group with participatory support. Thirteen (92.9%) participants completed the intervention, no related adverse events occurred, and the reported participant satisfaction was sufficient. Conclusions: The RISE intervention appears promising to support people with stroke who are highly sedentary to reduce and interrupt their sedentary time. Participatory support appears to contribute to greater results. Trial registration: ISRCTN international trial registry, 10694741. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diet quality is a marker of how closely eating patterns reflect dietary guidelines. The highest tertile for diet quality scores is associated with 40% lower odds of first stroke compared with the lowest tertile. Little is known about the diet of stroke survivors. We aimed to assess dietary intake and quality of Australian stroke survivors. Methods: Stroke survivors enrolled in the ENAbLE pilot trial (2019/ETH11533, ACTRN12620000189921) and Food Choices after Stroke study (2020ETH/02264) completed the Australian Eating Survey Food Frequency Questionnaire (AES), a 120-item, semiquantitative questionnaire of habitual food intake over the previous 3–6 months. Diet quality was determined by calculating the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS): a higher score indicates higher diet quality. Results: Eighty-nine adult, stroke survivors (female: n = 45, 51%) of mean age 59.5 years (±9.9) had a mean ARFS of 30.5 (±9.9) (low diet quality). Mean energy intake was similar to the Australian population: 34.1% from noncore (energy-dense/nutrient-poor) and 65.9% from core (healthy) foods. However, participants in the lowest tertile for diet quality (n = 31) had significantly lower intake of core (60.0%) and higher intake from noncore foods (40.0%). Most participants did not meet daily requirements for fiber, potassium, or omega 3 fatty acids (2%, 15%, and 18%), nutrients important to reduce stroke risk. Conclusion: The diet quality of stroke survivors was poor, with inadequate intake of nutrients important for reducing recurrent stroke risk. Further research is needed to develop effective interventions to improve diet quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improving physical activity levels and diet quality are important for secondary stroke prevention. Aim: To test the feasibility and safety of 6-month, co-designed telehealth-delivered interventions to increase physical activity and improve diet quality. Methods: A 2 × 2 factorial trial (physical activity (PA); diet (DIET); PA + DIET; control) randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint trial. Primary outcomes were feasibility and safety. Secondary outcomes included stroke risk factors (blood pressure, self-report PA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)) and diet quality (Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS)), and quality of life. Between-group differences were analyzed using linear-mixed models. Results: Over 23 months, 99 people were screened for participation and 40 (40%) randomized (3 months to 10 years post-stroke, mean age 59 (16) years). Six participants withdrew, and an additional five were lost to follow-up. Fifteen serious adverse events were reported, but none were deemed definitely or probably related to the intervention. Median attendance was 32 (of 36) PA sessions and 9 (of 10) DIET sessions. The proportion of missing primary outcome data (blood pressure) was 3% at 3 months, 11% at 6 months, and 14% at 12 months. Between-group 95% confidence intervals showed promising, clinically relevant differences in support of the interventions across the range of PA, diet quality, and blood pressure outcomes. Conclusion: Our telehealth PA and diet interventions were safe and feasible and may have led to significant behavior change. Trial Registration: ACTRN12620000189921. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence for post-stroke fatigue management is limited. We aimed to explore how Australian health professionals assess and assist fatigue management. Our objectives were to identify fatigue assessment tools and interventions used, explore clinician's confidence managing fatigue and explore whether management of post-stroke fatigue differs from management of fatigue related to other conditions. An online cross-sectional survey was completed by Australian health professionals (n = 60) providing services to people with fatigue. Analysis of open-ended questions identified common interventions and descriptive statistics were calculated for closed and dichotomized questions. Routine use of formal fatigue assessment tools was low (17%, n = 10). Most respondents reporting use of the Fatigue Impact Scale, Fatigue Assessment Scale and Fatigue Severity Scale. To address fatigue, respondents reported providing energy optimization strategies, education, and exercise interventions in clinical practice. Less frequently reported interventions were strategies to adapt tasks, sleep hygiene, psychology, nutrition, and pharmacology interventions. Respondents were "moderately" confident managing post-stroke fatigue. Respondents did not report differences between how they manage post-stroke fatigue and fatigue present in other conditions. Few Australian health professionals formally assess post-stroke fatigue. Management is multidisciplinary and based on evidence from fatigue management in other conditions. Most health professionals are not routinely using formal assessment tools for fatigue, possibly due to a lack of consensus on best practice in research. Common strategies recommended by health professionals include energy optimisation strategies, education and exercise. Comprehensive guidelines for post-stroke fatigue management are yet to be established. Health professionals should assess post-stroke fatigue using a validated tool to ensure an individualised approach to management based on the current available clinical guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interrupting prolonged sitting acutely lowers blood pressure in nonstroke populations. However, the dose–response effect in stroke survivors is unknown. The authors investigated different doses of light-intensity standing exercises that interrupt prolonged sitting and reduce blood pressure immediately and over 24 hours in stroke survivors. Methods: Within-participant, laboratory-based, dose escalation trial. Conditions (8 h) were prolonged sitting and 2 experimental conditions of standing exercises with increasing frequency (3 cohorts, 2 × 5 min to 6 × 5 min). The primary outcome is the mean systolic blood pressure. Results: Twenty-nine stroke survivors (aged 66 [12] y) participated. Frequent bouts of standing exercises lowered the mean systolic blood pressure following the 4 × 5-minute (−2.1 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI], −3.6 to −0.6) and 6 × 5-minute conditions (−2.3 mm Hg; 95% CI, −4.2 to −0.5) compared with prolonged sitting. Diastolic blood pressure was lowered following the 6 × 5-minute condition (−1.4 mm Hg; 95% CI, −2.7 to −0.2). The 24-hour systolic blood pressure increased following the 2 × 5-minute condition (6.9 mm Hg; 95% CI, 3.1 to 10.6). Conclusions: Interrupting prolonged sitting with more frequent bouts of standing exercises lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure in stroke survivors. However, reductions may only be short term, and investigations on sustained effects are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]