Stroke recovery or rehabilitation is the treatment for stroke patients with disability, to help them return to normal life as much as possible by regaining the skills of everyday living.
Stroke Rehabilitation
The goal of the stroke rehabilitation is to make an individual who had a stroke to reach the maximum level of independence and be as productive as possible. Stroke survivors often need complex rehabilitation; progress and recovery are highly individualized for each person. Although most of the functional abilities may restore soon after a stroke and still the recovery is an ongoing process.
- Occupational therapy is an exercise and training procedure to help the stroke patient relearn everyday activities, such as eating, drinking, dressing, bathing, cooking, reading, writing, and toileting.
- Therapeutic recreation uses treatment, education, and recreation services to help people to enhance their health, functional abilities, independence, and quality of life.
- Speech and language therapy is for patients who have problems of understanding speech or written words, cognitive loss, or problems in forming speech.
- Psychologists can assess cognitive function and educate people with stroke coping strategies.
- Vocational rehabilitation can work closely with a person who has stroke and their employer to promote the successful return to work.
Stroke rehabilitation can last from a few days up to several months. Functional improvement is visible in the first few days to weeks.