| Stroke rehabilitation strives to help individuals who | | | | sooner the stroke victim starts recovery the |
| have suffered a stroke relearn verbal and daily | | | | better. The best chance for patients to |
| living skills. The extent of rehabilitation depends on | | | | rehabilitate occurs within the first couple of |
| many factors such as the extent of damage to | | | | months after a stroke has occurred. Most |
| the brain, the knowledge of the rehabilitation | | | | hospitals will offer five or six therapeutic sessions |
| team, the amount of support from family | | | | a week which lasts for approximately three hours. |
| members and how soon recovery training has | | | | The length of a recovery program depends on |
| started. | | | | the amount of damage the individual endured as a |
| According to MayoClinic, stroke rehabilitation | | | | result of the stroke. Often it is a lifelong process |
| should consist of a team of rehabilitation | | | | although the majority of rehabilitation will occur |
| members from a variety of specialties such as | | | | during the first few weeks that follow a stroke. |
| physicians, nurses, speech therapists, occupational | | | | Problems seen in stroke sufferers largely depend |
| therapists, physical therapists, social workers, | | | | on which side of the brain was affected during a |
| psychologists, therapeutic recreation workers and | | | | stroke and the amount of damage caused by it. |
| vocational counselors. Physicians and nurses that | | | | Often there are problems with body movements. |
| treat stroke patients specialize in neurology and | | | | Individuals suffering from a stroke may not be |
| rehabilitation. Speech therapists help those who | | | | able to turn toward the side. They may also have |
| have had a stroke regain communication skills. | | | | trouble walking or getting up from a chair. They |
| Occupational therapists can help individuals regain | | | | may need others to help them with daily living |
| skills that make them fully functional in society. | | | | skills such as brushing their teeth, eating with |
| Physical therapists help people regain mobility. | | | | utensils, drinking from a cup or picking up objects. |
| Social workers and psychologists can deal with | | | | Language and thinking is also frequently impaired in |
| social and emotional issues that affect stroke | | | | stroke sufferers. Emotional problems are often |
| patients. Vocational counselors can help individuals | | | | seen in these individuals due to fears, sadness or |
| regain skills to reenter the workforce after they | | | | anger. |
| have suffered a stroke. Therapeutic recreational | | | | Stroke rehabilitation can help individuals who have |
| therapists help individuals relearn hobbies that they | | | | suffered a stroke regain daily living skills and help |
| were participants in before having a stroke. | | | | them with emotional and physical problems. |
| WebMD states that stroke rehabilitation should | | | | Progress takes time and patience in stroke |
| occur while the patient is still in the hospital. The | | | | sufferers. |