Stroke Rehabilitation

Reading this article

Topic pages summarize public health information in plain language. They may describe common causes and treatments in general terms; your own plan of care depends on your clinician’s exam, history, and tests. Use what you read here to prepare questions—not to start, stop, or change medications or to self-diagnose.

A stroke can cause lasting brain damage. People who survive a stroke need to relearn skills they lost because of the damage. Rehabilitation can help them relearn those skills.

The effects of a stroke depend on which area of the brain was damaged. The types of disabilities a stroke can cause include:

  • Paralysis or problems controlling movement
  • Pain and other problems with the senses
  • Problems using or understanding language
  • Problems with thinking and memory
  • Emotional disturbances

Stroke rehabilitation involves many kinds of health professionals. The goal is to help stroke survivors become as independent as possible and to have the best possible quality of life.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke