Activity limitations of patients with stroke attending out-patient facilities in the Western Cape, South Africa

A stroke can affect individuals at the levels of impairment, activity and participation. The aim of this study is to determine the activity limitations of stroke patients receiving rehabilitation at out-patient Community health Centres (ChCs). A longitudinal observational study was conducted. Activity limitations were measured using the Rivermead Motor Assessment Scale, the Barthel Index and the nottingham extended Activities of Daily living scale (neADl). The study population consisted of 100 patients with stroke consecutively admitted to the Community health Centres for therapy. The data was analysed using inferential and descriptive statistics. The majority of the participants were not able to climb stairs, travel on public transport, wash dishes, do washing, do household chores and shopping, socialize and manage the garden at six months post stroke. A significant improvement was noted in the ability of the participants to perform basic activities of daily living between baseline and two months, but not between two and six months. There was however a significant improvement in their ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living between two and six months. Although the participants were able to perform basic activities of daily living enabling them to be independent in their homes, they were unable to perform instrumental activities of daily living which limited their functioning in the community. There is a need for therapists to include activities which could facilitate re-integration into the community in their rehabilitation of patients with stroke.