Occupational therapy benefits stroke patients

Occupational therapy helps stroke patients recover their ability to care for themselves and also keeps them independent longer. One third of all stroke patients may lose their ability to live independently. Although the benefits of rehabilitation after stroke are clear, the specific components of rehabilitation that facilitate recovery are less well understood. Researchers form the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in Scotland, reviewed 10 studies that included 1,348 subjects who had a stroke. The studies compared the effects of occupational therapy with usual care or no care. The occupational therapy specifically focused on helping patients regain the ability to perform their personal everyday functions that were needed for independent living and, in some cases, leisure and work-related skills. It was found that patients who underwent occupational therapy were less likely to show deterioration in their abilities and better able to perform activities of daily living, like cooking and bathing. All the effective therapies were delivered by qualified occupational therapists at the patient's home. It is clear from the above results that occupational therapy is beneficial. However, more information is needed to answer questions such as which occupational therapy approaches are the most effective, how long therapy should be offered, and how often patients should have it.