Stroke: a focus on rehabilitative medicine

Abstract

Stroke is the most common neurological cause of long-term disability. While many patients show spontaneous functional improvement in the period immediately after a stroke, a multidisciplinary program of rehabilitative therapy is essential if the patient is to minimize their deficits and maximize their functional independence and quality of life. Southeast Missouri Hospital, a community hospital located in a rural part of the state, provides a full range of coordinated stroke rehabilitation therapies, both inpatient and outpatient. We report here the case of a 60-year-old stroke patient who achieved remarkable improvements in his abilities and independence through our program.