Rehabilitation

Spontaneous recovery accounts for most improvements in the first month after a stroke. Mobility improvements are most often seen in the first six months after a stroke. There may be improvements in language, steadiness and self-care skills for up to two years.

Rehabilitation helps stroke survivors relearn skills that are lost when part of the brain is damaged. Rehabilitation begins in the hospital as soon as possible after the stroke and continues as necessary afterward. Depending on the severity of the stroke, rehabilitation options include:

• A rehabilitation unit in the hospital
• A subacute care unit
• A rehabilitation hospital
• Home therapy
• Home with outpatient therapy
• A long-term care facility that provides therapy and skilled nursing care

The goal of rehabilitation is to improve function so that the stroke survivor can become as independent as possible. Rehabilitation helps stroke survivors relearn skills that are lost when part of the brain is damaged. For example, these skills may include coordinating leg movements in order to walk. Rehabilitation also teaches survivors new ways of performing tasks to compensate for disabilities. Patients may need to learn how to bathe and dress using only one hand, or how to communicate effectively when their ability to use language has been compromised. The type of rehabilitation needed may change as the recovery progresses.

Sources:
American Heart Association
Emory University School of Medicine
Heart Center Online
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute