Therapy for Stroke

What Therapies are Available After a Stroke

If you have had a stroke, you may need therapy or rehabilitation to regain functions that were affected by the stroke. You might have some difficulty moving parts of your body or you may have difficulty speaking. Other functions such as control of your bowel or bladder may be affected.

Rehabilitation therapies include:^[18][19]

• Therapy for speaking and understanding

• Improving motor or movement skills

• Self-care skills such as feeding, grooming, bathing, dressing and toileting

• Psychological therapy, if necessary

• Thinking skills such as memory, concentration, problem solving and organization

• Vocational training meaning work-related skills

• Pain management

Therapy can take place in a number of locations including inpatient and outpatient rehab units, nursing facilities and your home.^[18]

The length of time you will be in therapy can vary and depends on how severe your stroke was.18 Some people recover quickly, while others may require more time. Rehabilitation therapy may last a few months or possibly years.

Studies have investigated whether acupuncture may aid in recovery from strokes.^[20] Unfortunately, the quality of the studies has not been good and it is not possible to tell whether acupuncture is a valuable tool for stroke rehabilitation. Further study is necessary to clarify the benefit of acupuncture.