Post-Stroke Fatigue (PSF) has been associated with poor neurological recovery, increased physical efforts and burden of care. Physiotherapy for stroke survivors could be limited by PSF and this may heighten post-stroke disability. This study was conducted to investigate the association between PSF, disability and motor function among stroke survivors.

First incident stroke survivors with a minimum score of six (6) on the Modified Motor Assessment Scale (MMAS) were purposively recruited for this cross-sectional survey. PSF was assessed using the fatigue severity scale. Disability was measured using the stroke impact scale while the MMAS was used to assess motor function. Data were analysed using Chi-square test and Pearson product moment correlation at α=0.05.

Forty seven stroke survivors (31 males; 16 females) aged 58.74±10.78years participated in the study. The mean time since stroke onset was 25.12±44.29 months. There was a significant association between disability (p= 0.001) and PSF and between motor function (p= 0.004) and PSF. Path analysis, however revealed that only motor function and not PSF predicts disability in stroke survivors. Communication and mobility subscales of SIS had significant effects on fatigue while participation, instrumental ADL, strength, hand function and mobility had indirect effects on disability through their direct effects on motor function. 
Stroke survivors with poor motor function and more severe disability tend to report worse fatigue. Considering the negative, though indirect, impact of fatigue on the rehabilitation process for improving motor function, it is important to identify and treat fatigue early among stroke survivors for better functional outcome.

POST-STROKE FATIGUE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH DISABILITY AND MOTOR FUNCTION AMONG STROKE SURVIVORS IN IBADAN, NIGERIA