Rehabilitation after stroke must be early, intense, and must have the active participation of patients and caregivers.

29 October day world the Ictus.

-a stroke is a sudden disorder of cerebral circulation which alters the function of a given region of the brain. Stroke is the second leading cause of death in our country, and affects every year between 120,000-130,000 Spanish. Of them, some 80,000 die or are with disability.

-the Spanish society of rehabilitation and physical medicine (SERMEF) has produced a document of recommendations of good clinical practice on the model of health care in the rehabilitation of stroke, based on clinical experience and consensus of many medical rehabilitation of all Spain.

-the documentwill be published in January in the journal of the society, it stresses the importance that the rehabilitation after a stroke should be carried out by a multidisciplinary team coordinated by a physician rehabilitation.

-the Guide also affects the fact that the sequelae of stroke are not only physical and emotional, but also as socio-familiares which in many cases affected the participation of the patient in labour, occupational and recreational life.

Bilbao, October 2008.- Stroke rehabilitation program is a complex process. Requires a multidisciplinary approach ”, explained Esther Duarte, Member doctor of the Spanish society of rehabilitation and physical medicine (SERMEF). Early start, adequate intensity, periodic evaluation and active participation of patients and carers ”, are some of the key elements of a good rehabilitation.

These conclusions are contained in a document drawn up by the SERMEF – Duarte is the author-to be published in the journal of the society in January. This guide highlights the importance of care of rehabilitation by a multidisciplinary team, coordinated by a physician rehabilitation must be ensured at all levels of health and socio-health, hospital or community attention, ”.

The document stresses the importance of rehabilitation after stroke starts early and with adequate intensity and specificity (technology, periodic assessment).

Many of the immediate complications after stroke are related to immobility, so is recommended early mobilization as soon as the patient’s clinical status permits ”, explained Esther Duarte.

On the other hand, according to the document of the SERMEF, the beginning of the rehabilitative treatment during the first 24-72 hours after the stroke does not entail risks for the patient ”. In fact patients who initiated it during the first week after the stroke have lesser degree of disability and better quality of life in the long term than those who begin later ”.

Moreover, according to the expert, is the active participation of patients and caregivers in the rehabilitation programme, educational classrooms and other measures to ensure the information, training and support after discharge from hospital essential ”.

The second cause of mortality in Spain

A stroke is a sudden disorder of cerebral circulation which alters the function of a given region of the brain. Stroke is the second leading cause of death in our country, and affects every year between 120,000-130,000 Spanish. Of them, some 80,000 die or are disabled. Currently more than 300,000 Spaniards have some limitation in his functional capacity after having suffered a stroke.

The document of recommendations of good clinical practice on the welfare model in the rehabilitation of stroke, based on clinical experience and consensus of many medical rehabilitation of all Spain the SERMEF has also developed discusses the intensity of the rehabilitative treatment. It should be the maximum that the patient can tolerate and is willing to do. On its completion, is set to the time that does not identify new functional goals to achieve, or when the patient does not want to continue ”

reintegration into the community

other issues addressed by the guide is returning home after the stroke, a complex and difficult process for the patient and his family which must never be an interruption of the attentionrehabilitation does ”.

On the other hand, the guide focuses on the fact that the sequelae of stroke are not only physical and emotional, but also as socio-familiares which in many cases affected the participation of the patient in everyday work, occupational and recreational ”. Thus, the degree of social support moderating the impact of disability on the quality of life of the patient who has suffered a stroke ”. Patient associations and mutual aid groups offer an invaluable support in the long run that facilitates social participation after suffering a stroke.