Stroke rehabilitation therapy has many benefits for the person who had a stroke, their family and society. Stroke rehabilitation therapy is treatment and support from occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, nutritionists, other professionals, family and friends. Stroke has a huge impact on a family, and society—not just the person who had the stroke. If a person has a stroke, he or she has a higher chance of disability and difficulties later on in life. People have to begin speech, occupational and physical therapy. Imagine plumbers who can no longer use their dominant hand. They will have to relearn their trade. Imagine no longer being able to speak normally. People have to relearn to talk. Imagine police officers who now cannot see half of the world—how will they do their tasks? Stroke changes people’s future goals and plans. About one in two patients will become depressed and those with depression are less likely to participate in rehabilitation.
Stroke Rehabilitation
Stroke patients will need some follow-up care after treatment based on the severity of stroke damage or disability. This rehabilitation can occur at home with assistance, in a rehabilitation hospital, in a long-term care facility or at an outpatient facility. Stroke victims may work on self-care skills that are more difficult after stroke, from dressing and feeding themselves to memory and mobility skills. A mix of speech, physical and occupational therapies are often prescribed. Learn more about stroke rehabilitation with expert advice from Sharecare.
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Dr. Adrian A. Jarquin-Valdivia, MD , Neurology, answered on behalf of TriStar Centennial Medical Center -
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Rebecca ONeill , Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, answered on behalf of Englewood Community HospitalSee All 3 Answers
What kind of rehabilitation programs are available to stroke victims? Watch this video with Rebecca O'Neill, OT, in outpatient rehabilitation with Englewood Community Hospital, to learn about the options that are available.
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See All 2 AnswersJason Bywaters, MA, CCC-SLP from Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center discusses the role of a speech pathologist in stroke rehabilitation in this video.
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See All 3 AnswersRehabilitation following a stroke begins in the hospital, where staff determines the kind of rehabilitation you'll need. Learn more from Jill Tyroller, Stroke Coordinator, from Reston Hospital Center in this video.
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See All 2 AnswersPatients generally stay in the hospital for two to three days after a stroke. Learn more from Jill Tyroller, Stroke Coordinator, from Reston Hospital Center in this video.
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Dr. Steven A. Meyers, MD , Diagnostic Radiology, answered on behalf of NorthShore University HealthSystemSee All 2 AnswersStrokes vary greatly in the degree of disability that they cause. Most stroke survivors can return home and to their usual activities. Many stroke patients may require rehabilitation either in a facility or at home for some period of time after they leave the hospital. -
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SCAI answeredSee All 3 AnswersOver the past 30 years, improvements in the treatment of heart attack have dramatically reduced the number of deaths and disabilities caused by heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked.
Now, new treatments are available that may also revolutionize stroke care.
The medical community is taking aim at improving the outcomes for stroke, currently the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disabilities in the United States.
Stroke outcomes can be improved if:
Americans become much more aware of the warning signs of stroke - and of the urgent need for medical help if they experience one or more of them;Emergency medical and hospital admissions systems are established to ensure that anyone with stroke symptoms is taken to a stroke center and treated as soon as possible;More physicians are trained in interventional procedures to treat stroke. In interventional procedures, a physician inserts a catheter (a thin tube) into an artery in the leg, arm or neck and guides it through the blood vessels to the site in the brain that is narrowed or blocked. He or she then delivers devices or other therapies through the catheter to open the blocked vessel and restore blood flow. More cardiologists are trained in neuro-rescue procedures that allow physicians to remove clots from the brain using interventional techniques and newly clot-retrieval devices. Attached to a tiny wire, the device is inserted via a catheter through a very small cut in the femoral artery in the groin, or upper thigh, and advanced to the carotid artery in the neck. (The carotid arteries supply the brain with blood and a stroke can result when the arteries are blocked). The wire is threaded through the clot. When the device is deployed, its coiled wire forms a “basket” around the clot, allowing the physician to pull the whole clot from the body and restore blood flow to the brain. -
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Dr. Natalia S. Rost, MD , Neurology, answeredSee All 2 AnswersOutpatient stroke rehabilitation facilities allow you to live at home but come during the day for rehabilitation, generally at a hospital or other facility. Here, you will work with physicians and therapists who specialize in stroke rehabilitation. You usually spend several hours a day, several days a week, at the facility. Services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and social or psychological counseling. To attend outpatient rehabilitation, you need to be physically able to travel between the facility and your home. Comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities offer more flexibility than inpatient facilities because the programs can be adjusted to your needs. -
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Dr. Natalia S. Rost, MD , Neurology, answeredSee All 2 AnswersYou need to weigh a number of important factors when choosing a stroke rehabilitation program. Guidelines published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggest that you ask the following questions:
- If you are considering an outpatient program, is there someone at home who can provide care when you are at home? Is transportation available?
- Does the program provide the services you need, such as speech, physical, or occupational therapy?
- Does the program match your abilities, or is it too demanding or too easy?
- Does the program have a good reputation in the community?
- Is the program certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or the Joint Commission?
- Does the staff include registered physical and occupational therapists and physiatrists?
- If the program is residential, can relatives and friends visit easily?
- Are patients and relatives actively involved in rehabilitation decisions?
- What portion of the cost is covered by Medicare or private medical insurance?
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Dr. Natalia S. Rost, MD , Neurology, answeredSee All 2 AnswersWhen you start rehabilitation, you will probably notice significant progress on a daily basis. By the time a few weeks have passed, you may have advanced from being unable to sit up to being able to walk independently and take care of yourself. The amount of progress you see and how quickly it occurs depend on the severity of your stroke and the part of the brain affected. If your main problem is moderate muscle weakness, chances are that your recovery will progress more quickly than if you have more severe problems -- for example, language deficits that make it hard for you to understand when therapists and other people talk to you.
Stroke rehabilitation is hard work. Even spending many hours each day for several weeks on repetitive exercises may not produce a full recovery. Most people who need a rehabilitation program are left with some lingering weakness or disability. But for many people, significant recovery is possible. If you start rehabilitation unable to walk because of muscle weakness and severe balance problems, there's a good chance that you will gradually be able to walk on your own at least some of the time, use a wheelchair for the rest of the time, and be self-sufficient enough to wash yourself without assistance.