M Murie-Fernandez1, S Iturralde2, M Cenoz2, M Casado2, R Teasell3. 1. Unidad de Neurorrehabilitación, Departamento de Neurología, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, España. Electronic address: manumurie@gmail.com. 2. Unidad de Neurorrehabilitación, Departamento de Neurología, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, España. 3. Departamento de Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, St Joseph́s Health Care London, Parkwood Hospital, Universidad de Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canadá
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The ability to drive after a stroke has been recognised by many authors as a sign of independence and it is closely associated with proper social reintegration. However, it remains unclear how the driving ability of an individual who has suffered a stroke should be evaluated, and by whom. Neurorehabilitation can produce improvements in patients who have suffered a stroke, and patients may therefore be able to resume driving at the end of an appropriate neurorehabilitation programme. The aim of this article is to present a literature review in order to highlight current evidence regarding methods for assessing driving ability and therapeutic methods applied in order to recover a patient's ability to drive. DEVELOPMENT: A literature search was performed in different databases for the period between 1993 and 2011. Studies were analysed individually based on methods for assessing driving ability and neurorehabilitation measures. CONCLUSIONS: If there are any doubts regarding stroke patients' ability to drive, patients should be assessed appropriately. The proper way to assess these patients according to the literature is by employing a multidisciplinary evaluation to determine who is able to take a road test. Neurorehabilitation exercises currently in use may be able to improve driving ability in stroke patients.
INTRODUCTION: The ability to drive after a stroke has been recognised by many authors as a sign of independence and it is closely associated with proper social reintegration. However, it remains unclear how the driving ability of an individual who has suffered a stroke should be evaluated, and by whom. Neurorehabilitation can produce improvements in patients who have suffered a stroke, and patients may therefore be able to resume driving at the end of an appropriate neurorehabilitation programme. The aim of this article is to present a literature review in order to highlight current evidence regarding methods for assessing driving ability and therapeutic methods applied in order to recover a patient's ability to drive. DEVELOPMENT: A literature search was performed in different databases for the period between 1993 and 2011. Studies were analysed individually based on methods for assessing driving ability and neurorehabilitation measures. CONCLUSIONS: If there are any doubts regarding strokepatients' ability to drive, patients should be assessed appropriately. The proper way to assess these patients according to the literature is by employing a multidisciplinary evaluation to determine who is able to take a road test. Neurorehabilitation exercises currently in use may be able to improve driving ability in strokepatients.