Stroke

Rehabilitation after Stroke

Stroke can adversely affect many aspects of a person's life and rehabilitation efforts often require clinicians from many disciplines. The primary objective of rehabilitation after stroke is to provide the environment and experience that best encourages restorative processes in the brain through the recovery process. Rehabilitation services are most often provided by a team of specialists that may included any or all of the members listed below.

Acutely after stroke, treatment usually involves individualized intensive therapy provided by specialized brain rehabilitation physical, occupational, and speech therapists. The combination, intensity, frequency, and duration of treatment are determined by an individual's needs, ongoing evaluation by the treating therapists and the attending rehabilitation physician who coordinates the care.

Mayo Clinic and its Brain Rehabilitation and Research Programs offer stroke patients comprehensive inpatient and outpatient clinical services that integrate medical education and research.

Patients and their families work with a professional team. This team can include a:

• Physiatrist - a physician specializing in rehabilitation
• Nurse - specializes in caring for people with disabilities
• Dietitian - provides education on a heart-healthy diet specific to the patient's needs
• Physical therapist - helps with mobility, balance and strength
• Occupational therapist - provides exercises and practice to help perform activities of daily living
• Recreational therapist - uses sports, games, arts, crafts, and music to help patients build confidence and regain skills
• Speech therapist - helps with improving speech and language skills
• Social worker - helps with financial decisions and plan the return to home or new living arrangements.
• Psychologist or psychiatrist - focuses on the mental and emotional health of patients
• Spiritual leaders - foster all aspects of the patient's well-being and recovery