Stroke evaluation and treatment.

Cerebrovascular accidents remain the third leading cause of death in the United States, with many left with life-long disabilities. The causes and contributing factors of stroke are beginning to be well defined, but what is not appreciated are the various techniques for assisting recovery. Understanding what parts of the neurological and musculoskeletal exams predict short-term and long-term disabilities helps guide patients and families. Newer and effective rehabilitative approaches are available as are home, outpatient, and hospital-based sites for recovery. Improvements after stroke are now recognized to continue for months to years after the event. Available therapeutic techniques and evaluative studies are presented in this review.