Stroke

Stroke, or cerebral vascular accident, is a sudden disease with complex causes, etiology, comorbidities, and a high mortality rate. Most importantly, stroke is the third leading cause for temporary to permanent disabilities, both physical and cognitive, which can affect an individual's quality of life in the long term. Approximately 80% of stroke survivors suffer from motor disabilities over one side of the body, but only 10–20% of these motor disabilities can be fully recovered from. Occupational therapists play a pivotal role in rehabilitating and supporting stroke survivors in their recovery journey, particularly in terms of overcoming obstacles in their activities of daily living. The first section of this chapter describes the etiology, symptoms, and complications of stroke, followed by the role of occupational therapists in stroke rehabilitation, the challenges faced by stroke survivors regarding community integration, and the challenges for caregivers who attend to family members who have had a stroke. The case studies at the end of this chapter describe the journeys of two clients suffering from a stroke. Firstly, during the acute phase of management after onset, and then from the subacute to chronic phases longitudinally to highlight the role of occupational therapists in the rehabilitation process.