If this works we should have hundreds of physical therapists following this and writing up stroke protocols based on this. And since this is in Stroke Smart magazine from the National Stroke Association I would expect that they are writing up such stroke protocols. But I know that is not occurring. We are totally on our own as Dr. Steven Wolf writes, a rehabilitation stroke expert and
professor at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. "Stroke patients need to rely more on their own problem solving to regain mobility".
http://www.strokesmart.org/new?id=282
I agree with Dr. Wolf's statement about needing problem solving to regain mobility. However, people with more severe strokes may not be able to solve problems "on their own." Therapists need to assess mobility during a functional task and prompt patients to solve a problem if needed (e.g, what can you do when you get your foot caught on the leg of a chair). Telling a patient the solution or providing physical assistance when a patient gets in trouble makes the treatment session go faster, but it does not promote problem solving skills. I would go a step further and say problem solving training should be given to the caregiver when a stroke is so severe that the patient cannot do it him or herself.
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