Trends in stroke rehabilitation.

Certain shifts and trends in stroke rehabilitation practices are occurring in the US, deriving from scientific developments, regulatory requirements, and other sources. The prevalence of stroke is increasing in the US, duration of rehabilitation hospitalizations is decreasing, and the availability of alternative methods and locations of rehabilitation services is expanding. More awareness of measures to treat medical comorbidities and the associated disabilities of stroke can be expected to enhance outcomes. New and innovative techniques, including constraint induced movement therapy, pharmacological agents, complementary or alternative medicine techniques such as acupuncture, and community activities such as exercise classes, are more widespread practices now. Novel technological interventions such as robotics and cortical stimulation are being developed to facilitate improved outcomes. The essential focus of these practices on enhancing quality of life of stroke survivors remains unaltered.