Factors affecting functional outcome after stroke: a critical review of rehabilitation interventions.

A comprehensive review of the medical literature from 1950 to 1998 revealed 79 articles examining associations between rehabilitation interventions and functional outcome after stroke. This body of literature was critically analyzed, using established techniques, to reveal factors that were consistently associated with functional outcome after stroke. The following rehabilitation interventions after stroke appear to have a strong relationship with improved functional outcome at hospital discharge and follow-up: increased functional skills on admission to rehabilitation, early initiation of rehabilitation services, and rehabilitation in an interdisciplinary versus multidisciplinary setting. The following rehabilitation interventions after stroke appear to have a weak relationship with improved functional outcome at hospital discharge and follow-up: use of specialized types of therapy services and greater intensity of therapy services. The current literature is too limited to allow an assessment of the relationship of the following factors after stroke and functional outcome: specific types of non-inpatient rehabilitation services.