Health Report: Stroke Rehabilitation

Stroke Rehabilitation

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, someone dies of a stroke every four minutes, and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. Stroke often produces long-term side effects such as paralysis or weakness; mobility, balance, or coordination problems; trouble speaking or swallowing; and memory or learning problems.

The goal of stroke rehabilitation is to help your loved one relearn skills and abilities and return to productive, independent living. While success depends partially on the amount of damage to the brain, your loved one’s recovery can be enhanced by starting rehabilitation as soon as possible with caregivers who are highly experienced in stroke therapies. Often this requires a blend of therapy from physical, occupational and speech therapists as well as audiologists and other professionals, including rehab counselors.

Stroke rehabilitation is most effective when patients are offered customized, intense therapies that are designed to help patients improve strength and mobility, decrease spasticity, relearn skills, and develop new ways to compensate for decreased abilities.

New Options in Stroke Rehabilitation

The use of robotics for stroke rehabilitation takes advantage of neuroplasticity, which is a way for your brain reorganize and relearn after trauma or stroke. Robotics can assist with developing new pathways by replicating movements in a very precise manner and continuously adapting to patients as their abilities progress.

At Scripps, stroke rehabilitation patients have access to the InMotion HAND™ Robot, which senses patient strength and assists the patient as needed while allowing clinicians to supervise grasp and release hand therapy. The device helps patients improve range of motion, coordination, strength, movement speed and smoothness.

For more information about stroke rehabilitation at Scripps, call 1-800-SCRIPPS or visit scripps.org