Physiological Recovery Rates and Return-to-Work Fitness Among Post-Stroke Patients Undergoing Rehabilitation at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability in Nigeria, and post-stroke rehabilitation programmes are intended to restore physiological function and facilitate return to productive occupational life. The rate of physiological recovery and determinants of return-to-work fitness among Nigerian stroke survivors are inadequately characterised. Objectives: This study aims to monitor physiological recovery indices, including grip strength, six-minute walk distance, and functional independence measure scores, across three and six months of rehabilitation among post-stroke patients at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, and to identify predictors of return-to-work fitness. Methods: Fifty post-stroke patients in the subacute recovery phase will be enrolled and followed prospectively. Grip strength, six-minute walk distance, and functional independence scores will be assessed at baseline, three months, and six months. Stroke severity, lesion laterality, and comorbidities will be documented from clinical records. Mixed-effects regression will model recovery trajectories. Expected Outcomes: Grip strength and walk distance are expected to improve significantly across follow-up time points, with baseline stroke severity and age being the strongest predictors of rehabilitation outcome. Conclusion: Findings will inform evidence-based physiological rehabilitation protocols for stroke patients in Nigerian tertiary hospitals. Keywords: stroke rehabilitation, physiological recovery, return to work, functional independence, Zaria.