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Recovery plateau following stroke: fact or fiction

Recovery plateau following stroke: fact or fiction
Recovery plateau following stroke: fact or fiction
Purpose. ‘Plateau’ is an expression frequently used in relation to decisions to discharge patients from physiotherapy following stroke. This paper critically considers the concept of recovery plateau in stroke, exploring (i) the evidence for plateau, (ii) potential contributing factors, and (iii) the consequences for patients, therapists and services.
Search strategy. The concept of recovery plateau in stroke was reviewed drawing on standard critical appraisal methodology for the search strategy and critique. Electronic searches using Web of Knowledge, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Department of Health Website and the Cochrane Library from the earliest dates of coverage until February 2005 identified quantitative and qualitative literature related to stroke, plateau, recovery, outcome, rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
Discussion. The concept of plateau is ambiguous. Recovery has been considered to plateau within the first 6 months, yet recent studies indicate later recovery is possible. We suggest that ‘plateau’ relates not only to the patient's physical potential, but is influenced by how recovery is measured, the intensity and type of therapy, patients' actions and motivations, therapist values, and service limitations.
Conclusion. ‘Plateau’ is conceptually more complex than previously considered. Current conceptualizations may limit potential recovery and hinder service development. Research into plateau which takes account of contextual issues of therapy provision is required.
stroke, recovery, plateau, rehabilitation, outcome, physiotherapy
0963-8288
815-821
Demain, Sara
09b1124d-750a-4eb1-90c7-91f5f222fc31
Wiles, Rose
5bdc597b-716c-4f60-9f45-631ecca25571
Roberts, Lisa
0a937943-5246-4877-bd6b-4dcd172b5cd0
McPherson, Kathryn
dc901431-2119-42df-9400-852e4cb46d75
Demain, Sara
09b1124d-750a-4eb1-90c7-91f5f222fc31
Wiles, Rose
5bdc597b-716c-4f60-9f45-631ecca25571
Roberts, Lisa
0a937943-5246-4877-bd6b-4dcd172b5cd0
McPherson, Kathryn
dc901431-2119-42df-9400-852e4cb46d75

Demain, Sara, Wiles, Rose, Roberts, Lisa and McPherson, Kathryn (2006) Recovery plateau following stroke: fact or fiction. Disability and Rehabilitation, 28 (13-14), 815-821. (doi:10.1080/09638280500534796).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Purpose. ‘Plateau’ is an expression frequently used in relation to decisions to discharge patients from physiotherapy following stroke. This paper critically considers the concept of recovery plateau in stroke, exploring (i) the evidence for plateau, (ii) potential contributing factors, and (iii) the consequences for patients, therapists and services.
Search strategy. The concept of recovery plateau in stroke was reviewed drawing on standard critical appraisal methodology for the search strategy and critique. Electronic searches using Web of Knowledge, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Department of Health Website and the Cochrane Library from the earliest dates of coverage until February 2005 identified quantitative and qualitative literature related to stroke, plateau, recovery, outcome, rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
Discussion. The concept of plateau is ambiguous. Recovery has been considered to plateau within the first 6 months, yet recent studies indicate later recovery is possible. We suggest that ‘plateau’ relates not only to the patient's physical potential, but is influenced by how recovery is measured, the intensity and type of therapy, patients' actions and motivations, therapist values, and service limitations.
Conclusion. ‘Plateau’ is conceptually more complex than previously considered. Current conceptualizations may limit potential recovery and hinder service development. Research into plateau which takes account of contextual issues of therapy provision is required.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 2006
e-pub ahead of print date: 7 July 2006
Published date: 15 July 2006
Keywords: stroke, recovery, plateau, rehabilitation, outcome, physiotherapy

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 39659
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/39659
ISSN: 0963-8288
PURE UUID: 2977d7bd-3f47-4116-9688-e731e975698c
ORCID for Lisa Roberts: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2662-6696

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 11 Jul 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:54

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Contributors

Author: Sara Demain
Author: Rose Wiles
Author: Lisa Roberts ORCID iD
Author: Kathryn McPherson

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