Treatment + Recovery

Question 1

Treatment Focus

Answer 1

> Prevent complications
Minimise impairments
Maximise function

• Assessment (identify problems)
• Clinical reasoning + goal setting
• objective outcomes + treatment
• Interdisciplinary input ie MDT

Question 2

Factors affecting recovery

Answer 2

> Extent + Nature of lesion
> Integrity of collateral circulation
> Pre-stroke health
> Age 
> Capacity of nervous system to reorganise (neuroplastic ability)
> Environment
> Patient motivation
> co-existing conditions
> nutrition/hydration
> medication

Question 3

Neuroplasticity

Answer 3

> neural reorganisation

• unmasking of dormant pathways (increase synaptic strength with increased use)
• formation of new pathways - ‘collateral sprouting’ - undamaged nearby nerve cells form new synapses to replace damaged ones

Question 4

Maximising neuroplasticity post stroke

Answer 4

> Practice = learning

• more a pathway is used the stronger it becomes
• Supply is demand
• Motivation and education are key to getting continued use