"According to the National Stroke Association: 10% of
stroke survivors recover almost completely [and] 25%
recover with minor impairments" (NINDS, 2007, para. 2).
When a person suffers a stroke, the extent of impairment
to normal function depends on the type and location of
the stroke within the brain, the timing of treatment
(McCance and Huether, 2006), and the extent of injury to
the brain.  McCance and Huether (2006) further states
that a zone of injured cells will survive if perfused in
1 hour (p. 566).


Although reversing the damage does not happen with a
single medication or therapy, a holistic rehabilitation
plan can help clients regain some, if not many, motor
and cognitive abilities. Rehabilitation may in the end
"reverse" some damage to function caused by a stroke.

Rehabilitation therapy includes physical, occupational
and speech therapy (Heart & Stroke Foundation, 2007).
"The goal of physical therapy is to retrain someone to
walk or regain use of their hand or arm" (Heart & Stroke
Foundation, section: physical therapy). Although a
client may not walk the same as he or she did before a
stroke, through physical therapy, the client may learn
to walk again thus reversing some of the damage caused
by the stroke.

"The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable
people to participate in the occupations which give
meaning and purpose to their lives" (CAOT, 2007, para.
1). An occupational therapist may help clients learn how
to function in their home, complete activities of daily
living and regain some independence in those
activities.


Speech therapy helps clients with using and
understanding language, with communicating in various
ways, with swallowing, with problem-solving skills and
with social skills (Heart and Stroke Foundation).

With comprehensive rehabilitation and support from
health care providers, family and friends, clients who
have suffered a stroke may be able to regain many of
their normal functions. Although walking, talking,
dressing and many other activities may not look the same
as before the stroke, clients can learn how to do these
activities of daily living, just in a different way. And
with a fast access to care and appropriate treatment (eg
receive t-pa within 6 hours) cellular damage may be
reversed before necrosis occurs.

References:

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists [CAOT].
(2007). Occupational therapy: Definition. Retrieved May
22, 2007, from
http://www.caot.ca/default.asp?pageid=1344

Heart and Stroke Foundation. (2007). Living with stroke.
Retrieved May 22, 2007, from
http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/Page.asp?PageID=1965&ArticleID=4860&Src=stroke&From=SubCategory

McCance, K. L., and Huether, S. E. (2006).
Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in
adults and children (5th ed). St. Louis, Missouri:
Elsevier Mosby.    

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
[NINDS]. (2007). Stroke rehabilitation information.
Retrieved May 22, 2007, from
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke_rehabilitation.htm