title: Rehabilitation after stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke is becoming more common in Germany as the population ages. Its long-term sequelae can be alleviated by early reperfusion in stroke units and by complication management and functional restoration in early-rehabilitation and rehabilitation centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selective review of the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful rehabilitation depends on systematic treatment by an interdisciplinary team of experienced specialists. In the area of functional restoration, there has been major progress in our understanding of the physiology of learning, relearning, training, and neuroenhancement. There have also been advances in supportive pharmacotherapy and robot technology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Well-organized acute and intermediate rehabilitation after stroke can provide patients with the best functional results attainable on the basis of our current scientific understanding. Further experimental and clinical studies will be needed to expand our knowledge and improve the efficacy of rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Universitätsklinik Münster. knecht@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knecht
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hesse
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oster
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005858:Germany; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation; D011379:Prognosis; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D015996:Survival Rate