ABSTRACT
Natural recovery occurs following stroke, and most of the restitution in function takes place in the first 3 months following stroke (Skilbeck, Wade, Hewer, & Wood, 1983). Recovery tends to slow down or plateau after this period and is typically based more on compensation for impairments than restitution at an anatomical or physiological level. The path of recovery can be influenced by a variety of factors such as early identification of stroke symptoms, access to hyper-acute care (Horn et al., 2005; Indredavik, Bakke, Slørdahl, Rokseth, & Håheim, 1999; Stroke Unit Trialists Collaboration, 1997) with effective interventional procedures (International Stroke Trial-3 Collaborative Group, 2012) and rehabilitation protocols (early mobilization and forced use of limb) (Johansson, 2000).
