An activities index for use with stroke patients.

Scales of 'Activities of Daily Living' measure only a patient's ability for self-care. There is no brief scale to measure lifestyle, although this would be useful in determining rehabilitation goals. This paper describes such a scale, developed for use with stroke patients. The data obtained relate to pre-morbid and post-stroke levels of activities. Factor analysis indicates three major factors (domestic chores, leisure/work, outdoor activities). Two of these factors are sex-linked, as predicted. Some evidence is noted of the sensitivity of the index to severity of stroke.