Rehabilitation involves regaining optimal health and functional ability following an illness or injury. While a number of definitions exist, the common goal is the restoration of as much independence and "normality" as possible. This requires a team of skilled rehabilitation professionals to help the individual regain function in the variety of daily activities.
Strategies for stroke rehabilitation should be started as soon as possible, preferably in the acute setting and then continued in a rehab setting or at home, as appropriate. Physical therapy is focused on regaining gross motor deficits (transferring, walking, stairs, etc.). Occupational therapy focuses on fine motor functions and focal deficits such as visual deficits, brain functions such as mathematical calculations, and daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and kitchen activities. Speech therapy targets assessment and recovery of two important functions: speech functions (such as linguistics and articulation) and swallowing ability.
This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:
Stroke rehabilitation for the older person: current evidence, potential problems and future challenges. New Zealand Medical Journal. 2000
Enhancing recovery after stroke with noradrenergic pharmacotherapy: a new frontier?. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 2000
Services for helping acute stroke patients avoid hospital admission. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [computer file]. 2000
Services for reducing duration of hospital care for acute stroke patients. Early Supported Discharge Trialists. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [computer file]. 2000
Speech and language therapy for aphasia following stroke. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [computer file]. 2000
Organised inpatient (stroke unit) care for stroke. Stroke Unit Trialists' Collaboration. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [computer file]. 2000
The scope for rehabilitation in severely disabled stroke patients. Disability & Rehabilitation. 2000
The scope for rehabilitation in severely disabled stroke patients. Disability & Rehabilitation. 2000
Rehabilitation after severe stroke--an enthusiastic approval and a cautionary note. Disability & Rehabilitation. 2000
Evaluating fitness to drive after cerebral injury: basic issues and recommendations for medical and legal communities. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 2000
MediFocus.com understands that consumers who are facing serious medical issues need access to credible, up-to-date medical information to help them make informed health-care decisions. That's why we've developed the MediFocus Guides...the most advanced and trustworthy patient research guides for over 200 chronic and life-threatening conditions. Each MediFocus Guide includes a detailed overview of the condition including information about diagnosis, treatment options, cutting-edge research, and new developments; excerpts of important journal articles from the current medical literature focusing on standard treatments and treatment options; a directory of leading authors and medical institutions who specialize in the treatment of the condition; and a listing of organizations and support groups where you can obtain additional information about the illness.
MediFocus Guides are the perfect solution for consumers who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of their medical issue and avail themselves of the same type of professional level medical information that is used by physicians and other health-care professionals to help then in the clinical decision making process.
