[Rehabilitation of patients with stroke]

Stroke is one of the most frequent causes of death and disability. 14,000 to 15,000 individuals are hit by stroke in Norway annually, and the incidence is expected to rise. Optimal organization of rehabilitation for stroke patients has been extensively documented during the last 10 years. It is established that a larger reduction of disability and mortality for stroke patients is obtained by treatment and rehabilitation in stroke units than in general medical wards. WHO Region Europe recommends that all stroke patients are treated in stroke units in the acute phase. Additional reduction in mortality and disability is achieved through home-based rehabilitation, coordination by a multidisciplinary ambulatory team and by emphasizing cooperation between different levels of healthcare. Strategies for organising rehabilitation for different stroke patients must be based on scientific evidence; more knowledge is needed and much research is currently ongoing. The field of neuroscience has developed quickly during the last years, and evidence of brain plasticity gives reason to believe that an increase in the amount and intensity of training is important for an optimal effect. There is a need for more systematized knowledge, and further research will hopefully define a more specific and optimal strategy for stroke rehabilitation within a few years.