role of the Hospital Environment During Rehabilitaion

ABSTRACT

Early rehabilitation after stroke aims to maximize motor recovery. Research indicates that recovery can be significantly influenced by a challenging and movement oriented hospital environment. This review paper evaluates strategies to stimulate early, active and intensive patient participation in functional activities of daily living during non-therapy times. For example, rearranging the ward routine can reduce the time the patient spends inactively during the day, while physical restructuring and design of the ward can encourage weight bearing activities and upper limb function. Regular activity will also prevent secondary complications such as muscle contractures. Families can be better utilized to reinforce self-practice sessions and technological devices can remind the patient to move regularly. Hospital staff and rehabilitation therapists should review the practice of no rehabilitation during weekends and public holidays as 7 days per week therapy has been shown to reduce length of stay in other conditions. The challenge would be to create a cohesive team of health care professionals who can structure the hospital environment to motivate the patient to perform functional activities during non-therapy times