ABSTRACT
Stroke is a leading cause of disability and handicap in the industrialized world. Each year 750,000 subjects suffer a stroke in the United States; the prevalence is 200-300 patients=100,000 inhabitants (1). Approximately, 90% of these subjects suffer from persisting neurological motor deficits leading to disability and handicap. Large outcome studies reported that only 5% of stroke survivors regain full arm function and 20% of them cannot use their arms at all (2). With respect to walking ability, approximately 75% of stroke sufferers regain limited walking ability within a period of 12weeks and 25% remain wheelchair-bound (3). Best established prognostic factor with respect to recovery of motor function after stroke is the initial motor deficit accompanied by disabling focal upper and lower limb spasticity. The following article intends to provide a succinct, clinically oriented guide to the physical management of upper and lower limb rehabilitation after stroke including the neurolytic treatment of focal spasticity.
