Adult Stroke Rehabilitation Treatment Guidelines

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA) have jointly published the latest guidelines for the rehabilitation treatment of adults with stroke in the journal “Stroke” (stroke). 1. For any stroke patient who meets the criteria for follow-up rehabilitation in the acute phase, it is recommended that they receive as much organized, highly collaborative, interdisciplinary and comprehensive treatment as possible; (Recommendation level I, Evidence validity A) 2. For any stroke patient who meets the criteria for treatment in an in-hospital rehabilitation facility (IRF) or is eligible for IRF treatment, it is recommended that IRF be given priority over intensive care nursing home (SNF); (Recommendation level I, Evidence validity B) 3. For out-of-hospital or home recovery treatment, the recommended modality is community-based, organized, interdisciplinary rehabilitation; (Recommendation level I, Evidence validity C) 4. For patients with low to moderate disability, early discharge support therapy (ESD) may be considered. (Recommendation level IIb, Evidence validity B) II. In-hospital rehabilitation interventions 1. If organized, interdisciplinary stroke care is available for inpatients, early initiation of rehabilitation is recommended; (Recommendation level I, Evidence validity A) 2. For post-stroke patients, rehabilitation is recommended to achieve the patient’s expected benefit and to match the patient’s treatment tolerance; (Recommendation level I, Evidence validity B) 3. High-intensity, very early functional exercise within 24 hours very early functional exercise decreases the likelihood of a good prognosis for the patient within 3 months, so such treatment is not recommended. (Prevention of contractures and skin breakdown 1. During the patient’s inpatient rehabilitation, it is recommended that skin condition be assessed using objective criteria such as the Braden Scale; (Recommendation level I, Evidence validity C) 2. The recommendation is to minimize skin friction, provide a pressure-relieving airbed, avoid excessive moisture, and ensure proper nutrition and hydration to prevent skin breakdown. Until the patient is mobile, regular turning, skin hygiene, and the use of special mattresses are recommended; (Recommendation level I, Evidence validity C) 3. Patients, staff, and caregivers should be educated to prevent skin breakdown; (Recommendation level I, Evidence validity C) 4. Patients should be assisted to do maximum external rotation of the hemiplegic shoulder every 30 minutes if possible, whether the patient is sitting up or in bed; (Recommendation level IIa, Evidence validity B) 5. 5. For patients lacking effective hand movements, consider using a hand/wrist splint supplemented by regular and regular stretching exercises; (Recommendation level IIb, Evidence validity C) 6. Consider using a cast correction method or a resting adjustment splint to reduce the likelihood of low to moderate contractures of the elbow and wrist; (Recommendation level IIb, Evidence validity C) 7. If the patient has persistent contractures of the elbow with pain Consider surgical release of the brachioradialis, brachioradialis, or biceps; (Recommendation level IIb, Evidence validity B) 8. Consider the use of a resting ankle splint at night or during assisted standing to treat or reduce the likelihood of hemiplegic limb ankle hemiparesis. (1. For patients with ischemic stroke, prophylactic subcutaneous heparin should be used during the acute phase and recovery period or until the patient is mobile (Class I, Level of Evidence A). 3. For patients with ischemic stroke, the therapeutic benefit of intermittent pneumatic compression therapy during acute hospitalization is higher than that without prophylaxis; (Recommendation level IIb, Evidence validity B) 4. For patients with intracranial hemorrhage, consider prophylactic subcutaneous heparin therapy over a 2- to 4-day period; (Recommendation level IIb, Evidence validity C) 5. Consider preferential use of prophylactic doses of low-molecular heparin to prevent deep vein thrombosis over plain heparin; (Recommendation Class IIb, Evidence Validity C) 6. In patients with intracranial hemorrhage, the therapeutic benefit of using intermittent pneumatic compression therapy during acute hospitalization is higher than that of no prophylaxis; (Recommendation Class IIb, Evidence Validity C) 7. In patients with ischemic stroke, the use of medical compression stockings is not effective; (Recommendation Class III, Evidence B) 8. For patients with intracranial hemorrhage, the use of medical compression stockings is not effective. (V. Treatment of bowel discomfort and urinary incontinence 1. Pre-stroke urological history should be obtained; (Recommendation level I, Evidence validity B) 2. 4. Recommend removal of the Foley catheter within 24 hours of acute admission; (Class I, Evidence B). 5. Consider using “voiding promotion” and “pelvic floor exercises” to improve urinary incontinence in stroke patients; (Class IIa, Evidence B). 6. Consider assessment of bowel function after admission, including stool characteristics, frequency and duration, and bowel care before stroke. (Recommendation level IIb, Evidence validity C)