OBJECTIVE This study aimed to improve our understanding of static and dynamic lower extremity sensory perception and the impact of sensory impairments on the control of walking in stroke survivors. METHODS Using a custom, real-time unloading system, we tested load perception at heel strike, mid stance and push off in 10 stroke survivors and compared their performance to 10 age-matched and 5 y...

At least half of all stroke survivors experience fatigue; thus, it is a common cause of concern for patients, caregivers, and clinicians after stroke. This scientific statement provides an international perspective on the emerging evidence surrounding the incidence, prevalence, quality of life, and complex pathogenesis of poststroke fatigue. Evidence for pharmacological and nonpharmacological i...

Stroke has an annual incidence in Britain of about 200 cases for every 100 000 population and a prevalence of about 500 for every 100 000.' Survivors may return to an entirely normal life, but about a third do not achieve functional independence.2 Mood disorder may be a specific complication of stroke,3 and failure to recognise and treat the disorder may be an important unmet need of survivors ...

This study concerns the quality of life of patients after stroke and how this is influenced by disablement and emotional factors. Ninety-six consecutive patients of mean age 71 years were followed for two years. At the end of that time 23% had experienced a recurrence of stroke and 27% were deceased. Of the survivors 76% were independent as regards activities of daily life (ADL) and lived in th...

38 Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate altered finger-thumb coupling in 39 individuals with chronic hemiparesis post-stroke. 40 Methods: First, an external device stretched finger flexor muscles by passively rotating the 41 metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints. Subjects then performed isometric finger or thumb force 42 generation. Forces/torques and electromyographic (EMG) signa...

This paper reports on a project that looked at the meaning stroke survivors assigned to assistive devices. Material culture theory served as a framework to help stroke survivors explicitly consider [dis]ability as a discursive object with a socially constructed meaning that influenced how they thought about themselves with impairment. Material culture theory informed the design (taking and talk...

INTRODUCTION Stroke rehabilitation is a process targeted towards restoration or maintenance of the physical, mental, intellectual and social abilities of an individual affected by stroke. Unlike high-income countries, the resources for stroke rehabilitation are very limited in many low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Provision of cost-effective, post-stroke multidisciplinary rehabil...

The presence of a serious and chronic illness in one family member usually has a profound impact on the family system, especially on its role structure and the family functions. Families play an important supportive role during the course of a client’s convalescence or rehabilitation. Most caregivers of stroke survivors find themselves in a stressful situation. Research has shown that taking ca...

OBJECTIVE To describe and explain stroke survivors and informal caregivers' experiences of primary care and community healthcare services. To offer potential solutions for how negative experiences could be addressed by healthcare services. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-ethnography. DATA SOURCES Medline, CINAHL, Embase and PsycINFO databases (literature searched until May 2015, published...

BACKGROUND Few studies explore stroke survivor views and motivations towards stem cell therapy (SCT). This qualitative study explores the views and motivations of both stroke survivors and their partners/carers towards a proposed 2-arm Phase III Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) comparing intracerebral insertion of stem cells with placebo neurosurgery in stroke survivors with disability. OBJE...