Equipment provision after stroke: A scoping review of the use of personal care and mobility aids in rehabilitation

Maybe the full paper has some usabilty. The line on recovery after using compensatory aids I believe is wrong.
http://bjo.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/09/10/0308022616664910.abstract

1. Pauline Boland1,2⇑
2. William Levack2
3. Meredith Perry3
4. Fiona Graham2

1. ¹Lecturer, MSc Occupational Therapy Programme, Clinical Therapies, University of Limerick, Republic of Ireland
2. ²Senior Lecturer, Rehabilitation, Teaching and Research Unit, University of Otago, New Zealand
3. ³Lecturer, Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand

1. Pauline Boland, University of Otago Wellington, Rehabilitation, Teaching and Research Unit, University of Otago, Newtown, Wellington 6242, New Zealand. Email: pauline.boland@ul.ie

Abstract

Introduction The aim of this scoping review was to examine and synthesise literature on adaptive equipment use for personal care and mobility after stroke.

Method We searched databases including Medline, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL and Scopus to February 2016. Two authors independently screened 789 titles, identifying 28 studies for inclusion in the review.

Results Findings were grouped into four themes: (1) stroke-specific impairments and consequences for equipment use and training; (2) meaning of equipment for people with stroke; (3) cost of equipment after stroke; and (4) conflicts between equipment provision and models of stroke rehabilitation.

Conclusion The wide range of impairments after stroke increases complexity of how people use equipment. Nonetheless, training needs and the relationship between social context, identity and equipment use are increasingly better understood,. The findings highlight a tension between practice that seeks to re-train function by ‘normal’ movement without equipment and restoration of function by using compensation strategies involving use of equipment. However, there is no evidence that compensation strategies impede recovery of physical abilities.???!!! High-quality evidence about costs of equipment after stroke, which could inform policy decisions, is urgently needed.