Occupational Therapy and Stroke Rehab: Acute Phase
Introduction
After a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) happens, the recovery clock starts ticking immediately. The acute phase of stroke rehabilitation covers the first few hours and days after the event, when the main focus is medical stabilization. This page covers the immediate hospital treatments occupational therapists routinely use to promote prevention, safety, and early engagement, often within the first 48 hours after a stroke event.
Because if you or a loved one are receiving occupational therapy as a treatment for stroke, we want you to be as informed as possible—so we, as OTs, can truly partner to create the best course of treatment for YOU.
In occupational therapy, we tend to work from “menus” of evidence-based assessments and treatments. This gives us the flexibility to meet the specific needs of each patient. Below, you’ll find the assessment and treatment options your therapist may use, along with the evidence supporting them.
You will also find stroke rehab therapists near you.
Please note that this page is for educational purposes and does not substitute advice from your medical provider.
This post is part of a 4-part series. The full stroke rehab guide has therapy information for all 3 phases of stroke. Our acute, subacute and chronic stroke rehab pages have specific recommendations for those phases—and specific support for Club Members.
Related Assessments
Assessments are powerful tools to help us partner in your care. They establish a clear baseline, direct our treatment efforts, and give us a reliable way to track your progress over time. Your team may select some specific measures that fit your unique situation. Here are some examples:
Functional Capacity and Activities of Daily Living
Motor Function
Mobility
- Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
- Clinical Outcome Variables
- Functional Ambulation Categories
- Functional Reach Test
- Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS)
- Range of Motion Testing (ROM)
- Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI)
- Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)
- Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Test
- Trunk Control Test
Upper Extremity
Mood and Cognition
Visual Perception and Neglect
Spasticity
Gathered from Canadian Stroke Best Practices and Pedretti’s Occupational Therapy.
Possible Goal Areas
Occupational therapy goals in acute stroke rehabilitation often fall under these categories:
Functional Capacity and ADLs/iADLs
Upper body dressing, self-feeding, personal hygiene
Motor Function
Supine to sit, dynamic balance, strength
Mobility
Home functional mobility, squat pivot transfer, lateral scooting
Upper Extremity
Grasping, reaching, dexterity
Mood & Cognition
Decision making, emotional regulation, pain awareness/ metacognition
Visual Perception & Neglect
Visual scanning, neglect, spatial orientation
Spasticity
Weight bearing, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, low load prolonged stretch
Goal Bank for Club Members
Functional Capacity and ADLs/iADLs
Therapeutic Goals:
Upper Body Dressing
Within [time frame], the patient will don their hospital gown using their unaffected arm with [level/type of assistance] to address dressing.
Brush Teeth
By [time frame], the patient will brush their teeth using their unaffected arm while weight bearing on the counter with the affected arm with [level/type of assistance] while standing for at least [time] to address hygiene and neuromuscular re-education of the hemiparetic arm.
Self-Feeding
Within [time frame], the patient will sit on the edge of bed unsupported for at least [time] while eating a meal with the unaffected hand manipulating eating utensils and the affected hand stabilizing a bowl or plate with [level/type of assistance].
Assessment-Based Goal:
By [time frame], the patient will demonstrate a 1.85 point (minimally detectable change threshold) or greater improvement in the Barthel Index as an indicator of improved ADL performance.
Motor Function
Therapeutic Goals:
Supine to Sit
Within [time frame], the patient will transition from supine to sitting on the edge of bed with the head of the bed at a 45-degree angle with [level of assistance] to address bed mobility required for completing upright activities.
Dynamic Balance
By [time frame], the patient will move his clothes from the bedside table to his suitcase with primary use of his affected arm while sitting in his room chair with [type of support] to address trunk mobility and affected arm use.
Strength
Within [time frame], the patient demonstrate 3+/5 hemiparetic triceps brachii strength to push their bedside table away from their bed after eating a meal.
Assessment-Based Goal:
By [time frame], the patient will demonstrate 3+/5 hemiparetic extensor digitorum strength as an indicator of wrist extensor strength required for participation in various daily activities.
Mobility
Therapeutic Goals:
Home Functional Mobility
By [time frame], the patient will ambulate approximately [distance, e.g., meters] from the bed to the bathroom with [assistive device/assistance level] to address functional mobility required to complete bathroom ADLs.
Squat Pivot Transfer
By [time frame], the patient will complete a squat pivot transfer from the wheelchair to the toilet with a bilateral wheelchair armrest push off with both arms with [level of assistance] to demonstrate transfer skills required for toileting.
Lateral Scooting
By [time frame], the patient will complete [level of assistance] lateral scooting from the edge of the tub transfer bench in preparation for showering.
Assessment-Based Goal:
By [time frame], the patient will exhibit a 20% decrease in their time in the Five Times Sit to Stand Test as an indicator of improved sit to stand ability.
Upper Extremity
Therapeutic Goals:
Grasp
Within [time frame], the patient will grasp a washcloth with the hemiparetic hand with [level of assistance] to address grip required for ADLs.
Functional Dexterity
By [time frame], the patient will pick up [number] of food items from his plate with [level of assistance] during self-feeding with the hemiparetic hand within to self-feeding.
Functional Reaching
By [time frame], the patient will use the hemiparetic limb to turn the bathroom sink faucet on in preparation for facial hygiene prompting at least [degrees of movement] with [level of assistance].
Assessment-Based Goal:
By [time frame], the patient will detect two-point discrimination at 6mm on the palm of his hemiparetic hand to indicate fair tactile discrimination.
Mood & Cognition
Therapeutic Goals:
Decision Making
By [time frame], the patient will select the food options from the menu they desire with [level of assistance] to address decision making for ADLs.
Emotional Regulation
Within [time frame], the patient will complete deep breathing for [# of breathing cycles] to achieve a [amount of change] drop in heart rate as an indicator of emotional regulation after self-reported anxiety due to their acute stroke.
Pain Awareness/Metacognition
By [time frame], the patient will indicate their current pain levels with use of the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale with [level of assistance].
Assessment-Based Goal:
By [time frame], the patient will score a 24 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination as an indicator of no presence of cognitive impairment.
Visual Perception & Neglect
Therapeutic Goals:
Visual Scanning
By [time frame], the patient will visually scan a tabletop and locate [number] [specific items (e.g., writing utensils, coins, colored pieces of paper)] placed on the neglected side with [amount/type of cues].
Visual Scanning, Item Retrieval, and Organization
By [time frame], the patient will visually scan a tabletop and locate all objects placed on the neglected side to [ complete an activity (e.g. write grocery list, make a bowl of oatmeal, complete hair routine)] with [amount/type of cues], then use the hemiparetic hand to transfer each object required for the activity into their personal bag at midline with [level/type of assistance] , to enhance spatial awareness, organization skills and use of the hemiparetic hand.
Visual Scanning for Text
By [time frame], the patient will visually scan the room whiteboard to identify their nurse’s name for the day with [amount/type of cues].
Assessment-Based Goal:
By [time frame], the patient will score a 1 (no visual errors present) on the Clock Drawing Test as an indicator of visuospatial performance.
Spasticity
Therapeutic Goals:
Weight Bearing
By [time frame], the patient will perform seated tabletop weight bearing through her hemiparetic upper extremity on the edge of their ped while using the unaffected upper extremity to place objects in the cupboard with [level/type of cues] for elbow extension for [time goal] in preparation for sit to stands.
Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation
By [time frame], the patient will complete a [time goal] TENS program for the hemiparetic digit, wrist and elbow flexors to reduce emerging flexor spasticity.
Low Load Prolonged Stretch
By [time frame], the caregiver will complete low load prolonged stretch of the hemiparetic elbow flexors for [time goal] with [type,amount] cues required for proper body mechanics when performing the stretch for the patient to address caregiver training and home exercise program compliance.
Assessment-Based Goal:
By [time frame], the patient will decrease their upper extremity flexor spasticity as noted by a decrease in their Modified Ashworth Score from 4 to 3, demonstrating a 1 point, clinically significant reduction in spasticity (minimally clinical important difference threshold 0.76).
Treatment Interventions
Following an initial evaluation, the focus shifts to immediate, specialized care. In this acute phase of stroke recovery, active treatment interventions are often fewer and more focused as the focus remains on medical stabilization. Occupational therapy at this stage centers on preventing secondary complications and safely preparing you for the next phase of your recovery. Below are the targeted interventions that can be used at the bedside to protect your progress and set the stage for the next phase of rehabilitation.
🟢 = Strong support in evidence
🟡 = Moderate support in evidence
Based on: Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Adults with Stroke
Interventions to Support Occupations (preparatory activities)
🟡 Early Mobilization 19
🟡 Upper Extremity Passive Range of Motion (PROM) 27
Functional Mobility
🟢 Mental Imagery with Task-Oriented Training 8,9
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Functional Mobility Interventions
🟡 Action Observation with Task-Oriented Training 15
Treatment Notes for Club Members
Interventions to Support Occupations (preparatory activities)
🟡 Early mobilization1
Considerations: Medical appropriateness, precautions, activity tolerance
Recommendations: Practitioners could consider providing mobilization within the 1st 24 hours after stroke onset, during acute care, to improve ADL performance (dose: 5-30 min, 2x/day, for 7-14 days, depending on discharge)
🟡 Upper extremity PROM2
Considerations: Pain, positioning, tolerance
Recommendations: Practitioners could consider providing PROM for acute stroke patients in intensive care to improve self-care performance (dose: 15 min, 2x/day, 5 days/wk, for 4 wk)
Functional Mobility
🟢 Mental imagery with task-oriented training3
Considerations: Cognition (attention, abstraction)
Recommendations: Practitioners should consider the use of mental imagery, using video, audio, or images of specific movements or tasks, as an adjunct to task-oriented training for adults with stroke at all stages of recovery to improve functional mobility in the short term (dose: <6wk; 12-40 5- to 30-min sessions over 4-6 wk)
Activities of Daily Living and Functional Mobility
🟡 Action observation with task-oriented training4,5
Recommendations: Practitioners could consider providing action observation along with task-oriented training to improve ADLs and functional mobility of adults with acute stroke (dose: 20-90 min/sessions, 3-6 days/wk, for 3-8 wk)
Discharge Suggestions
As you finish your initial stay in acute care, you may transition to you home, a rehab center, or a skilled nursing facility to continue your progress in the subacute phase of recovery. Because a stroke can affect everything from movement to speech, most people need additional, focused therapy to regain strength, balance, and daily living skills.
Learn more about what to expect next in our guide to Occupational Therapy and Stroke Rehab: Subacute Phase
Know how to recognize a second stroke (think FAST):
F: face drooping
A: arm weakness
S: speech difficulties
T: time to call 911
Education Resources for Clinicians
Choosing a Therapist
Occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech language pathologists are critical care providers in the realm of stroke rehabilitation. The initial phases of stroke rehabilitation are typically delivered in an acute care setting, so you will be working with the rehab team in your hospital.
As you transition into rehab in the outpatient setting for continued recovery in the chronic phase, you will likely have a wider variety of choices for therapists to work with.
Below, you can find occupational therapy professionals who have tagged “stroke” as a focus area.
Jamie Boldig
MOT, OTR/L
Appleton, Wisconsin
Aging in Place, ADHD, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Anxiety, Aphasia & Communication Disorders, Assistive Technology, Autism, Burns, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Coaching, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Depression & Mood Disorders, Dystonia, Ergonomics, Fitness, Feeding and Eating, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Grant Writing, Hand Therapy, Health Data, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Hippotherapy, Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Lifestyle Medicine, Leadership, Medication Management, Multiple Sclerosis, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Parkinson’s, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Population Health, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rare Diseases, Rheumatic Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Tourette syndrome, Voice & Fluency
Carla Adkins
Occupational Therapist
Moses Lake School District, Washington
Soap Lake, Washington
ADHD, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Ergonomics, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Mitochondrial Disorders, Neurodiversity, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Rare Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Tourette syndrome
Paul Pettyjohn
OTR/L, CPAMS, MLD/CDT, CAPS
Monterey Park, California
Aging in Place, Burns, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Ergonomics, Fitness, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Hand Therapy, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Lymphedema, NICU, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Prevention, Stroke, TBI
Mandi Haws-Fuller
Bachelor's of Social Work (BSW), Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (OTR/L)
Holistic Orthopedics, Eden Home Health
Seattle, Washington
Aging in Place, ADHD, Autism, Chronic Pain, Ergonomics, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Lifestyle Medicine, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Parkinson’s, Seating and Mobility, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Naomie Corro
OTD, OTR/L, BCP
Missouri State University
Springfield, Missouri
ADHD, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, CIMT, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Health Promotion, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Stroke, TBI
Sarah Blair
OTR/L
Mobia Medical
Indianapolis, Indiana
Stroke
Laurie Sullivan Gosse
OTR/L
Industry Professional
Coastal Home Rehab
Middletown Township, New Jersey
Aging in Place, Autism, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Feeding and Eating, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Lymphedema, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatic Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Stroke, Wound Care
Mallory Taylor
OTR/L
Phoenix, Arizona
Anxiety, Aphasia & Communication Disorders, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Feeding and Eating, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Parkinson’s, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Caleb Head
OTR/L
Simpsonville, South Carolina
Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Dementia, Home Modifications, Maternal Health, Medication Management, Parkinson’s, Stroke
Lauralee Gordon
OTR/L
Flow Therapeutics, LLC
Richmond, Virginia
ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Fitness, Hand Therapy, Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Maternal Health, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Parkinson’s, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Rare Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Sexuality/Intimacy, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Tourette syndrome
Haley Parker Lamattina
OTR/L
Merrimack, New Hampshire
ADHD, Anxiety, Aquatic Therapy, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Dementia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Ergonomics, Fitness, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Lifestyle Medicine, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Prevention, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Sarah Hauser
OTR/L
Bloom2Function LLC
Montrose, Colorado
Aging in Place, Autism, Chronic Conditions, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Fitness, Home Modifications, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Neurodiversity, Prevention, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI
Salmin Chacha
OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
AL NOOR TRAINING CENTRE
dubai
ADHD, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Aquatic Therapy, Aphasia & Communication Disorders, Assistive Technology, Autism, Burns, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, CIMT, Coaching, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Depression & Mood Disorders, Developmental Delays, Dystonia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Ergonomics, Emergency Department, Feeding and Eating, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Grant Writing, Hand Therapy, Health Data, ICU/Critical Care, Insomnia & Sleep, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Lifestyle Medicine, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Maternal Health, Medication Management, Mitochondrial Disorders, Multiple Sclerosis, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, NICU, Pelvic Health, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rare Diseases, Rheumatic Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Sexuality/Intimacy, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, Swallowing & Dysphagia, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Vestibular & Balance Rehab
Jinu Thomas
OTD, CLT, OTR/L
Queens, New York
Aging in Place, ADHD, Anxiety, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Fitness, Lymphedema, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurorehabilitation, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Parkinson’s, Seating and Mobility, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI
Amanda M Fonner
OTR/L
Educator
Mercy Hospital Jefferson
Festus, Missouri
Anxiety, Burns, Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Depression & Mood Disorders, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Hand Therapy, Health Promotion, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Lymphedema, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Parkinson’s, Social Determinants of Health, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Vestibular & Balance Rehab
Miriam Clapp
OTA/L
Administrator
Sacramento, California
Anxiety, Autism, Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Dementia, Fitness, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Stroke
Cynthia Kisik
COTA/L
Patriot at Home
Louisville, Ohio
Aging in Place, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Aphasia & Communication Disorders, Assistive Technology, Burns, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Dementia, Fitness, Grant Writing, Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Lifestyle Medicine, Medication Management, Multiple Sclerosis, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Parkinson’s, Pelvic Health, Rare Diseases, Rheumatic Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Sexuality/Intimacy, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Vestibular & Balance Rehab
Megan Veenstra
OTR/L
The Golden OT LLC
Blaine, Minnesota
Aging in Place, Assistive Technology, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Ergonomics, Fitness, Feeding and Eating, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Pelvic Health, Seating and Mobility, Stroke, TBI
Melissa S Kimmerling
EdD, MOT, OTR/L
Administrator
Augustana University
Papillion, Nebraska
Aging in Place, Autism, Ergonomics, Hippotherapy, Home Modifications, Leadership, Neurorehabilitation, Parkinson’s, Seating and Mobility, Stroke
Lisa Bostic
OTR/L
Pittsboro, North Carolina
ADHD, Anxiety, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Feeding and Eating, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Neurodiversity, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Rare Diseases, Stroke, TBI
Ella Vanderpool
OTD, OTR/L
Denver, Colorado
Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Vestibular & Balance Rehab
Shaunna Kotka
OTD, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, CMT
Administrator
Open Grounds Inc.
Marina del Rey, California
ADHD, Anxiety, Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Depression & Mood Disorders, Dystonia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fitness, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Knowledge Translation, Lymphedema, Medication Management, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Parkinson’s, Prevention, Population Health, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rare Diseases, Rheumatic Diseases, Social Determinants of Health, Sports Medicine & Performance, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Sidney Deatherage
COTA/L
Intermountain Health
Cedar City, Utah
ADHD, Autism, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Feeding and Eating, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Home Modifications, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Neurorehabilitation, Parkinson’s, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI
Anna Addison
MSOT, OTR
Industry Professional
Prompt Health
San Francisco, California
Aging in Place, Aphasia & Communication Disorders, Burns, Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Ergonomics, Fitness, Feeding and Eating, Health Data, Home Modifications, Leadership, Medication Management, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurorehabilitation, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Parkinson’s, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rare Diseases, Sports Medicine & Performance, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Vestibular & Balance Rehab, Wound Care
Conclusion
Hopefully this article helped you understand what therapy for acute stroke rehabilitation entails.
This article is updated regularly based on newly released research. If you have any research you would like us to consider, please contact us.
Contributors
Ella Vanderpool
OTD, OTR/L
Sarah Lyon
OTR/L
Sarah Lyon, OTR/L, is the CEO of OT Potential. Sarah earned her BA from St. Olaf College and her master’s degree in occupational therapy from New York University. Her diverse clinical background spans multiple settings, including critical access, acute trauma, and state inpatient psychiatric hospitals. In 2011, she founded OT Potential to fulfill the industry's need for reliable, high-quality occupational therapy resources and continuing education.
As a recognized content creator, Sarah has collaborated with top healthcare brands like VeryWell Health, WebPT, and MedBridge. She blends her clinical expertise with a talent for creating clear, action-oriented content that empowers practitioners to excel. Passionate about elevating the OT profession, she has been featured on numerous industry podcasts. Sarah ultimately returned to her roots, running OT Potential and raising her family in her hometown of Aurora, Nebraska.
References
Chippala, P., & Sharma, R. (2016). Effect of very early mobilisation on functional status in patients with acute stroke: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation.
Kim, H. J., Lee, Y., & Sohng, K. Y. (2014). Effects of bilateral passive range of motion exercise on the function of upper extremities and activities of daily living in patients with acute stroke. Journal of Physical Therapy Science.
Guerra, Z. F., Lucchetti, A. L. G., & Lucchetti, G. (2017). Motor imagery training after stroke: A systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy.
Peng, T. H., Zhu, J. D., Chen, C. C., Tai, R. Y., Lee, C. Y., & Hsieh, Y. W. (2019). Action observation therapy for improving arm function, walking ability, and daily activity performance after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Rehabilitation.
Li, R., Li, Z., Tan, J., Chen, G., & Lin, W. (2017). Effects of motor imagery on walking function and balance in patients after stroke: A quantitative synthesis of randomized controlled trials. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.
Additional References
Assessments from Canadian Stroke Best Practices and Pedretti’s Occupational Therapy.
Treatment Recommendations from the Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Adults With Stroke.
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. (2019). Rehabilitation and Recovery following Stroke. Canadian Stroke Best Practices.
Pendleton, H. M., & Schultz-Krohn, W. (2018). Pedretti’s occupational therapy: Practice skills for physical dysfunction (8th ed.). Elsevier.