Stroke rehabilitation : traditional and modern approaches.

The recovery from stroke is often slow and incomplete, leading to partial or complete loss of locomotion, activities of daily living (ADL), cognition and communication skills. Aim of stroke rehabilitation is to reduce the disabilities and enable the patient to return to community, which is achieved by joint efforts of physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, nurses, social workers and psychologists. Rehabilitation of a stroke patient begins as soon as any impairment is perceived and comprises traditional exercise programmes and neuropsychological approaches with the primary aim of restoring mobility of patient. It also deals with issues related to dysphagia, bowel and bladder care, shoulder dislocation, pressure sores, and prevention of deep venous thrombosis. A good rehabilitation programme helps in promoting natural recovery, preventing complications due to disabilities and adapting to disabilities.

Pneumatic splints: fabrication and use in neurorehabilitation.

Asymmetrical tone and weakness in antagonistic muscles often result in misalignment of joint, contractures and deformities. Traditional static splints used to prevent these complications are expensive, have to be custom made and cannot be used when deformities are marked. Authors describe fabrication and use of pneumatic splints, which are economic, safe and easy to apply. These splints have wide application in the management of common medical problems in neurological rehabilitation like hypotension, edema, pain, spasticity and early deformities.