Neurologist Alla Syrkina from the National Medical Research Center for Transplantology and Artificial Organs, named after Academician V. I. Shumakov, exclusively told SE that acute cerebrovascular accidents, or strokes, occur in Russia at a rate of 460 to 560 cases per 100,000 people.
“Rehabilitative treatment should begin as early as possible, sometimes within the first few days after a stroke. Rehabilitation doctors, together with the patient and their family, design a recovery program based on the patient’s specific goals. It’s important for these goals to be individualized and achievable,” the doctor explained. The team then includes physical therapists, who help restore motor activity; speech therapists, who work on restoring proper eating and speech; occupational therapists, who focus on adapting the patient and their family to daily tasks; and psychologists, who support emotional and cognitive well-being.
After some time, it’s determined whether the initial goals have been met, and new tasks are set. “For example, a stroke patient may want to independently eat a favorite dish again — this is an individual goal. To achieve it, a series of tasks is required: restoring movement in the hand, improving coordination and strength, understanding the safe consistency of the food, the serving temperature, and learning a safe posture for eating,” Syrkina explained.
According to Alla Syrkina, rehabilitation takes weeks, sometimes even months. “If the goal is achievable, and the patient’s family provides necessary support and follows all specialist recommendations, the results will surely be noticeable. The key is to seek professional help as early as possible since the chances for recovery are greatest within the first 6-12 months after a stroke,” the specialist concluded.