Rethinking Recovery and Rehabilitation after Stroke

Abstract

There are critical differences in the potential for rehabilitation of impairment early and late after stroke. Early after stroke the proportional recovery rule for spontaneous biological recovery applies, as does the idea of a sensitive period. Late after stroke, rehabilitation relies on motor learning principles. We will need new behavioral treatments augmented by pharmacology and perhaps non-invasive brain stimulation to rectify the overall ineffectiveness of current neurorehabilitation