Rehabilitation involves regaining optimal health and functional ability following an illness or injury. While a number of definitions exist, the common goal is the restoration of as much independence and "normality" as possible. This requires a team of skilled rehabilitation professionals to help the individual regain function in the variety of daily activities.
Strategies for stroke rehabilitation should be started as soon as possible, preferably in the acute setting and then continued in a rehab setting or at home, as appropriate. Physical therapy is focused on regaining gross motor deficits (transferring, walking, stairs, etc.). Occupational therapy focuses on fine motor functions and focal deficits such as visual deficits, brain functions such as mathematical calculations, and daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and kitchen activities. Speech therapy targets assessment and recovery of two important functions: speech functions (such as linguistics and articulation) and swallowing ability.
The Medifocus Guide on Stroke Rehabilitation provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:
What are the most common symptoms of stroke?
Are there any recognized risk factors for developing stroke?
What kinds of medical tests are used to establish the diagnosis of stroke?
What is the current standard of care for the treatment of stroke?
What treatment options are available for the management of stroke?
Are there any promising new developments or potential breakthroughs in treatment?
Who are the most notable medical authorities who specialize in stroke rehabilitation?
Where are the leading hospitals and centers of research for stroke rehabilitation?
What are the most important questions to ask my doctor about stroke rehabilitation?
What Your Doctor Reads:
This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:
Stroke rehabilitation for the older person: current evidence, potential problems and future challenges. New Zealand Medical Journal. 2000
Enhancing recovery after stroke with noradrenergic pharmacotherapy: a new frontier?. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 2000
Services for helping acute stroke patients avoid hospital admission. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [computer file]. 2000
Services for reducing duration of hospital care for acute stroke patients. Early Supported Discharge Trialists. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [computer file]. 2000
Speech and language therapy for aphasia following stroke. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [computer file]. 2000
Organised inpatient (stroke unit) care for stroke. Stroke Unit Trialists' Collaboration. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [computer file]. 2000
The scope for rehabilitation in severely disabled stroke patients. Disability & Rehabilitation. 2000
The scope for rehabilitation in severely disabled stroke patients. Disability & Rehabilitation. 2000
Rehabilitation after severe stroke--an enthusiastic approval and a cautionary note. Disability & Rehabilitation. 2000
Evaluating fitness to drive after cerebral injury: basic issues and recommendations for medical and legal communities. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 2000
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