Regaining movement and independence following a stroke: Is physical rehabilitation effective?

 Effective to stroke survivors would be 100% recovery; so at 10% full recovery I'd say it is almost completely ineffective! Would you hire anyone for anything if they said they'd only be able to complete 10% of your requirements?

Regaining movement and independence following a stroke: Is physical rehabilitation effective?

Nov 26, 2025 - McMaster University -

The Bottom Line

• Worldwide, about 1 in 4 people will experience a stroke in their lifetime.
• Stroke is the leading cause of disability across the globe.
• In adults who have had a stroke, physical rehabilitation may(NOT WILL!) have the potential to enhance leg movement, balance, and walking speed, as well as the ability to perform daily activities independently.
• People who have had a stroke should develop a tailored rehabilitation plan with their healthcare team.

Do you know what BE FAST represents? From doctors to commercials, we’ve been exposed to this acronym for years. BE FAST stands for balance, eyes, face, arms, speech, and time. This popular public awareness campaign teaches the signs of stroke and when to seek help. In more detail, these signs include loss of balance, vision changes, face drooping, weakness in the arms and legs, and trouble speaking, and indicate it’s time to call 911 (1).

Globally, it's estimated that 1 in 4 people are at risk of having a stroke at one point in their life (2). So, it’s easy to understand why enormous effort is placed on stroke education. In fact, in countries like Canada, around 80% of people now survive strokes, partly because the signs are recognized early (3). Unfortunately, about 66% of survivors have trouble moving or controlling certain parts of their body—like their arms or legs—right after their stroke, with some impairments continuing in the longer term or even permanently (4). This isn’t surprising when we consider that stroke is the top cause of disability across the globe (2).

For people who survive a stroke, these impairments can impact their ability to complete essential daily activities on their own—like showering, getting dressed, and feeding oneself. Physical rehabilitation, generally delivered by a physiotherapist, aims to help survivors recover movement and function, so they can regain independence. But is it effective? Let’s look at a recent systematic review for answers (4).

What the research tells us

The review found that in adults who have had a stroke, physical rehabilitation may(NOT WILL!) provide long-term improvements in leg movement and the ability to perform essential daily activities independently. These benefits are seen when comparing physical rehabilitation to no physical rehabilitation. Potential shorter-term enhancements in balance and walking speed may(NOT WILL!) also be possible.

The good news doesn’t end there! Seemingly, going above and beyond the usual amount of physical rehabilitation may provide even greater benefits for all the outcomes noted above. However, we’re uncertain whether the benefits of extra physical rehabilitation last long term.

When we know something is potentially effective, we want to learn what variation of it will help us reap the most rewards. In other words, what type of physical rehabilitation is optimal. Here, we see that physical rehabilitation focused on regaining a specific movement by allowing people to practice through real-life activities may be most beneficial for some outcomes.

Overall, these findings are generally based on low certainty evidence, meaning future research may show different results for some outcomes (4).

In the meantime, it’s important that people who have had a stroke, and their caregivers, discuss rehabilitation options with their healthcare team and develop a tailored rehabilitation plan that addresses their wants, needs, and concerns.