Stroke Research

Research Studies

Stroke and Dysphagia

Difficulty with swallowing (dysphagia) following neurological injuries, and particularly stroke, is common and potentially life-threatening. The current standard of care for persons with dysphagia usually involves restriction of thin liquids, such as water, in an effort to avoid aspiration-related pneumonias. The effectiveness of this intervention is questionable, and is generally disliked by patients. There is evidence suggesting that the administration of water is safe and improves patient satisfaction during rehabilitation. This retrospective study is investigating this hypothesis, and findings from it will be used to improve the rehabilitation of persons with post-stroke dysphagia.

Stroke Recovery and Age

Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital takes all those factors into consideration as well as the patient’s functional level, to determine if the patient has the potential to benefit from acute rehabilitation. One factor of particular interest to Spalding was age. Our experiences told us that factors other than age seem to determine whether or not our patients were successful at home. While the analysis of the information is not completely scientific, our information over a period of 5 quarters (3rd Quarter 2000—3rd Quarter 2001) suggests exactly this.

Read the Full Results of this Research Study>>

Stroke Research Publications

Physicians at Spalding Rehabiliation Hospital have contributed to many published research studies. Here are a few select ones that may be of interest.

• Constraint-induced movement therapy after stroke: efficacy for patients with minimal upper-extremity motor ability. Read Research Abstract>>
• Constraint-induced therapy for moderate chronic upper extremity impairment after stroke Read Research Abstract>>
• Treatment of acute ischemic stroke: does it impact neuropsychiatric outcome Read Research Abstract>>
• Akinetic mutism following unilateral anterior cerebral artery occlusion Read Research Abstract>>