Rehab

Young stroke survivors receive targeted rehab

Rehab Regs, June 10, 2004

While strokes are usually associated with the elderly, approximately one-third occur in people younger than 62, according to the Associated Press (AP). With this in mind, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) has announced the launch of the Prime of Life Stroke Rehabilitation Program--a physical rehabilitation program developed specifically for younger stroke survivors. RIC treats patients with needs that are different from older stroke victims, including maintaining employment, taking care of their families, engaging in an active social life, driving, and continuing their community involvement. To facilitate this, some newer therapies include the use of constraint-induced movement therapy to help redevelop muscle strength and control; body-weight supported treadmill therapy to help patients learn to walk again; robotic assisted therapy to take advantage of the new discoveries about the brain's neural plasticity; and the use of Botox injections to minimize the spasticity or hyperactivity of muscles, according to the AP.

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