Training and Stimulation in Post Stroke Recovery Brain Reorganization

Another article from 2005, I wonder how many stroke units have started incorporating enriched environments for their stroke patients? Is it a part of the Joint Commission protocols on Stroke Rehabilitation? Its probably a secret(national defense and all) You wouldn't want stroke survivors to know what the latest therapies are, they might start getting vocal about them.
http://thomasland.metapress.com/content/e893m0prnjej1gxm/
Come on Joint Commission, I dare you to contact me.

Abstract

In both animal and clinical studies, training or rehabilitation increases cortical representation with subsequent functional recovery, whereas a lack of rehabilitation or training decreases cortical representation and delays recovery. Animals exposed to enriched environments post stroke have improved functional outcomes compared with animals exposed to nonenriched environments. In humans, stroke units may be the closest approximation there is to an enriched environment. However, studies indicate that patients spend the majority of time being inactive and alone while on a stroke unit. Given the animal evidence (which emphasizes increased stimulation and increased activity), there is clearly an opportunity for improving the stroke rehabilitation experience to maximize post stroke recovery.

Keywords

animal models, cerebral vascular accident, hospital units, humans, recovery of function, rehabilitation, stroke units