Post-stroke rehabilitation is a vital part of the stroke pathway. While the recovery period from a stroke is long and challenging, rehabilitation allows those who have had a stroke to rebuild their lives and adapt to the changes their stroke has caused.
A postcode lottery in stroke rehabilitation means thousands of stroke survivors are missing out on vital post-stroke rehabilitation, resulting in poorer rehabilitative outcomes, psychological and emotional issues, and an unnecessarily increased burden placed on the UK’s health and social care systems. We want to see all stroke survivors being able to access to personalised needs based rehabilitation for as long as needed and according to national guidance.
Read about our rehabilitation policies in more depth below.
Our stroke recovery guides below also explain the different types of rehabilitation.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can help stroke survivors recover lost function in limbs and improve their mobility, significantly improving quality of life. We view it as central to the stroke rehabilitation pathway.
In the early stages, physiotherapy may focus on preventing complications and helping your recovery. Later, it can help you find ways to enable you to do things that are important to you, such as getting in and out of bed, or doing sports.
- Get the guide: Physiotherapy after stroke
Speech and language therapy
Being able to eat and drink safely and communicate fluently are vital to a happy and healthy life. A stroke can jeopardise these skills, disrupting a stroke survivor’s ability to interact with family and friends, and enjoy meal times.
- Get the guide: Communication problems after a stroke
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy forms an important part of a stroke survivor’s recovery and rehabilitation. It involves re-learning of everyday activities to enable a survivor to lead a full and independent life and enables them to regain the skills they need for dayto-day ctivities and other things they want to do.
- Get the guide: Occupational therapy after stroke
Psychological and emotional support
Having a stroke can have lasting and far-reaching effects on different areas of a person’s life. Not only can a stroke impact an individual’s physical wellbeing, but it can pose a range of psychological challenges to a stroke survivor and their families. These challenges are complex and interwoven, ranging from cognitive impairments such as memory problems to severe mental health disorders like anxiety or depression.
- Get the guide: Emotional changes after a stroke
Vocational rehabilitation
One in four of all strokes happen to individuals under the age of 65 and around a third of stroke survivors in this age group have to give up their job following their stroke. This can put huge pressure on a stroke survivor’s finances, as well as denting their sense of independence, purpose, and self-esteem. When a stroke survivor is able and wants to return to work, vocational rehabilitation can help them to do so.
- Get the guide: A complete guide to work and stroke
- Get the guide: A complete guide to stroke for employers
Campaign with us
We are the force for change. By listening to and working with people affected by stroke, we can drive improvements in stroke prevention.