There is a need for effective stroke rehabilitation systems that are affordable and can be used in under-supervised/unsupervised environments whether in the clinic, the home or in the community. This paper discusses the challenge of developing such systems and presents briefly two studies that examine how issues such as engagement and compliance affect the long-term effectiveness of these syste...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE A research synthesis was performed to (1) critically review controlled studies evaluating effects of different intensities of stroke rehabilitation in terms of disabilities and impairments and (2) quantify patterns by calculating summary effect sizes. The influences of organizational setting of rehabilitation management, blind recording, and amount of rehabilitation on th...

BACKGROUND Evidence-based practice, the linking of research evidence with clinical decision-making, has been a major recent development. However there are many challenges to the development of evidence-based stroke rehabilitation. Before it can become a reality we need to establish a reliable evidence-base providing information which is relevant, reliable, accessible and understandable. This ar...

The evidence to support stroke rehabilitation has expanded dramatically in the last decade. In order to ensure that the resultant research findings can be generalized to all patients after stroke, research in the next decade must shift to multicentre trial activity. Published evidence from the stroke unit, early supported discharge and out-patient trials is strong and supports the beneficial ef...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is a disabling feature of stroke, and its identification and management are critical for optimizing patient outcomes. This study examined USN problem identification, assessment, and treatment among clinicians working in stroke rehabilitation. METHODS This report was based on a Canada-wide survey of 253 occupational therapists providing i...

Stroke is one of the most life-altering syndromes affecting the world population. Rehabilitation for people experiencing stroke is focused almost exclusively on self-care activities and being able to return home and has little to no focus on work rehabilitation or community reintegration. The Cognitive Rehabilitation Research Group (CRRG) at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. L...

BACKGROUND Regaining independent ambulation is the top priority for individuals recovering from stroke. Thus, physical rehabilitation post-stroke should focus on improving walking function and endurance. However, the amount of walking completed by individuals with stroke attending rehabilitation is far below that required for independent community ambulation. There has been increased interest i...

Background: Rehabilitation is cornerstone for the recovery of stroke patients. This lecture focuses on the current status of stroke rehabilitation in China. Methods: Selective review of papers published by Chinese authors. Results: A new system which is called “standardized tertiary rehabilitation” was established in China and has better effect on the recovery of motor function, cognitive funct...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The greater mortality and residual physical impairments among black stroke patients may be attributable to differential utilization of rehabilitation services. This report examines, within an equal-access healthcare system, racial differences in time to initiation of stroke rehabilitation services and in the trajectory of physical function recovery. METHODS This study w...