What needs do exercise therapies fill for stroke rehab patients?
Stroke patients exhibit biomechanical impairments associated with hemiparetic gait, which limits mobility and increases the risk of falls. Disability through physical deconditioning and “learned non-use” result from the limited mobility. As a consequence, most stroke patients become physically inactive and exhibit chronic deficits in gait and balance that are compounded by the declines in fitness and strength that accompany advancing age. Repetitive task-oriented training, such as treadmill exercise and forced-use training, offer the potential to improve motor function and further improve muscular and cardiovascular function.
