title: Noninvasive strategies to promote functional recovery after stroke.
abstract: Stroke is a common and disabling global health-care problem, which is the third most common cause of death and one of the main causes of acquired adult disability in many countries. Rehabilitation interventions are a major component of patient care. In the last few years, brain stimulation, mirror therapy, action observation, or mental practice with motor imagery has emerged as interesting options as add-on interventions to standard physical therapies. The neural bases for poststroke recovery rely on the concept of plasticity, namely, the ability of central nervous system cells to modify their structure and function in response to external stimuli. In this review, we will discuss recent noninvasive strategies employed to enhance functional recovery in stroke patients and we will provide an overview of neural plastic events associated with rehabilitation in preclinical models of stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Neuroscience Institute of Turin, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faralli
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bigoni
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mauro
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carulli
mesh_terms: D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation