Background: Physical activity is a cornerstone of lifestyle-oriented rehabilitation for community-dwelling stroke survivors. Effective physical activity is of great significance for restoring physical functions and enhancing self-care ability in stroke survivors. Although qualitative research on PA in this population is expanding, a systematic synthesis is lacking. This qualitative systematic review aims to integrate stroke survivors' experiences of PA after return to home and community settings.
Methods: This review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for qualitative systematic reviews. Ten electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, WanFang Data, CNKI, Chongqing VIP, and CBM) will be searched; hand-searching and gray-literature retrieval will supplement database results. Two independent reviewers will perform study selection, methodological quality appraisal (JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist), data extraction, and meta-aggregation. The ConQual approach will establish confidence in the synthesized findings.
Discussion: A rigorously conducted qualitative systematic review will provide a transparent, comprehensive account of stroke survivors' PA experiences. The findings will generate robust evidence to inform the development and implementation of effective community- and home-based PA interventions.
Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42024561586.
Keywords: Experiences; Physical activity; Qualitative research; Stroke; Systematic review protocol.
© 2025. The Author(s).