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Rehabilitation
  Rehabilitation actually starts in the Hospital as soon as possible after the stroke. In patients who are stable, rehabilitation may begin within two days after the stroke has occurred, and should be continued as necessary after release from the hospital. Depending on the severity of the stroke, rehabilitation options include:
  • A rehabilitation unit in 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
Rehabilitation Goals
  The goal in rehabilitation is to improve function so that the stroke survivor can become as independent as possible. This must be accomplished in a way that preserves dignity and motivates the survivor to relearn old skills that the stroke may have taken away -- skills like eating, dressing and walking.
How is Rehabilitation Accomplished?
  The primary means of rehabilitation include physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech language pathology.
Physical Therapy

Occupational Therapy Speech Language Pathology
Physical therapy (PT) helps restore physical functioning and skills like walking and range of movement. Major impairments which PT addresses include partial or one-sided paralysis, faulty balance and foot drop.
Occupational therapy (OT) involves relearning the skills needed for everyday living such as eating, toileting, dressing and taking care of oneself.
Speech language pathology is another major rehabilitative therapy. Some stroke survivors are left with aphasia, an impairment of language and speaking skills the stroke survivor can think as well as before the stroke, but is unable to get the right words out or is unable to process words coming in. Aphasia is usually caused by a stroke on the left side of the brain. Speech language pathology can teach the aphasic stroke survivor and his or her family members methods for coping with this frustrating impairment. Speech language pathologists also work to help the stroke survivor cope with memory loss and other "thought" problems caused by the stroke.
 

Copyright © 2000, North Carolina Stroke Association

Last edited 03/26/2005