Stroke Rehabilitation Program
Stroke is the largest cause of disability and the 3rd largest cause
of death in the U.S. There are more than 4 million stroke survivors in
this country. Many people live for years following their stroke and want
to remain as independent as possible.
Our Stroke Rehabilitation Program includes:
- Strengthening
- Mobility training
- Walking or wheelchair mobility
- Balance
- Bathing and dressing
- Home management
- Eating
- Swallowing
- Bowel and bladder retraining
- Medication management
- Speech/language skills
- Problem solving
- Money management
- Coping skills
- Driver Readiness Program
- Equipment needs
- Discharge planning
- Family education and training
- Community reintegration
Our team | Equipment &
therapy | Inpatient program |
Outpatient program | Family
involvement | Follow-up program |
Support group | Locations
The rehabilitation team
Our multidisciplinary team combines the knowledge of many medical
professionals to develop an individualized treatment plan for each
patient. Directed by a physician who specializes in rehabilitation
medicine, a physiatrist, this team includes members from:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech pathology
- Therapeutic recreation
- Rehab nursing
- Rehab psychology
- Social work
- Other health care professionals, depending on each patient's
needs
Specialized equipment and therapy available
- LiteGait
LiteGait is a body weight support system used with or without a
treadmill. The unique design of the LiteGait allows a single
individual to move patients weighing up to 500 pounds from a seated
position to proper upright posture. The patient is kept in a
comfortable, fall-free environment, enabling both the patient and
the therapist to concentrate on the therapy session much earlier in
the rehabilitation process. LiteGait is like a 2nd set of hands,
because it frees the therapist to observe gait patterns and make
manual adjustments in limb placement, weight shift, walking symmetry
and gait timing. Click
for more information on LiteGait.
- SaeboFlex
The SaeboFlex is a custom, dynamic wrist and hand orthosis (splint)
designed for individuals with hemiparesis of the upper extremity who
have some shoulder and elbow function but no hand function. The
splint assists patients with finger extension through the use of
springs to allow repetitive, task specific grasp and release
exercises that will promote motor recovery.
Click for more
information about SaeboFlex.
- Bioness
Bioness is an electrical stimulation system that activates muscles
that have been affected by stroke. This functional electrical
stimulation is used to move the affected areas through repetitive
exercises as part of the patient's therapy program. The Bioness can
be use to stimulate hand or ankle motion.
Click for more
information about Bioness.
- Dynavision
The Dynavision is a computerized board used to improve visual and
motor function in patients where this has been compromised by injury
or disease. The equipment is used by therapists to improve reaction
time, peripheral vision, the ability to find objects in the
environment and coordinated arm movements.
Click for more information
about Dynavision.
- Balance Master®
Balance Master is used to test and rehabilitate balance disorders
due to medical or neurological issues. The Balance Master provides
objective assessment and retraining of the sensory and voluntary
motor control of balance with visual biofeedback.
Click for more information about Balance Master.
- Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT)
NDT is a hands-on treatment approach used by physical therapists,
occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. The
approach was developed to enhance the function of adults and
children who have difficulties in controlling movement resulting
from neurological challenges such as stroke and head injury.
Click for more
information about NDT.
- Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)
CIMT helps certain individuals regain or improve the use of their
arm and/or hand after a stroke or brain injury. CIMT involves
wearing of a large mitt on the uninvolved hand in order to
discourage its use and to force the use of the more impaired arm or
hand. This also helps in teaching the brain to “re-wire” itself.
Click for more information on CIMT
(PDF file).
- Vital Stim
Vital Stim is an external neuromuscular electrical stimulation
system that is used to stimulate inactive or weak swallowing muscles
in patients with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). Speech
therapists use this electrical current during therapy to stimulate
the nerves in the throat to help re-educate the swallowing muscles.
Click for more information on Vital Stim.
Inpatient stroke survivors receive daily therapy to restore physical
and cognitive functions. They also learn new ways to do things, perhaps
with assistive equipment to aid walking, talking, grooming and other
daily activities as they recover.
Our team of health care professionals, along with the patient and
his/her family, will develop a treatment plan to meet the unique needs
of the individual. Family members are an important part of our team and
are encouraged to participate in the rehab program.
[ Learn more about our inpatient
rehabilitation programs ]
With continued therapy, stroke survivors can continue to make
cognitive and functional improvements after they are discharged from the
hospital. In our outpatient stroke program, patients receive individual
therapy treatments as recommended by their physician. Like our inpatient
program, specialized plans are developed for each patient's goals.
To achieve functional goals, a patient may need physical therapy to
improve walking, occupational therapy to work safely in the kitchen or
speech therapy to improve swallowing or the clarity of communication,
for example.
Because family plays a very important role in a patient's recovery,
our stroke programs encourage family involvement. Family members and
care givers can observe and participate in therapy sessions and learn
how to take care of the patient once they leave the hospital. After
participating in the program, family members are better prepared when
the patient returns home. Family can also assist in developing a
specialized home program for their loved one.
Stroke Follow-up Program
The Stroke Follow-Up Program provides an appointment with a doctor
who specializes in recovery of function after a stroke. He or she will
evaluate you to determine if there are any new or worsening problems
that could benefit from treatment to improve function and quality of
life after your stroke. If needed, a physical therapist, occupational
therapist and speech therapist will be available for evaluation.
[ Learn more about our Stroke Follow-up Program ]
Both patients and family members experience major lifestyle changes
following a stroke. To help adjust to life after stroke, Aurora offers
several stroke support groups for patients and families. In addition to
group discussion that offers encouragement and support, meetings may
include a brief presentation by a medical expert. The groups are open to
anyone whose life has been touched by stroke, regardless of where they
were hospitalized or treated.
[
Learn more about our stroke support groups ]
To learn more or request an appointment, call 414-649-5541.
Locations offering this service
Kenosha County
Aurora Medical Center in Kenosha
10400 75th Street
Kenosha, WI 53142
(262) 948-7045
Milwaukee County
Aurora Rehabilitation Center
Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
Health Science 1, Suite 106
2901 W. Kinnickinnic River Pkwy.
Milwaukee, WI 53215
(414) 649-6011
Aurora Rehabilitation Center
Aurora Sinai Medical Center
945 N. 12th St., 4th floor
Milwaukee, WI 53201
(414) 219-5241
Aurora Rehabilitation Center
2000 E. Layton Ave., Suite 160
St. Francis, WI 53235
(414) 747-8400
Aurora Rehabilitation Center
Aurora St. Luke's South Shore
5900 S. Lake Dr.
Cudahy, WI 53110
(414) 489-4072
Aurora Rehabilitation Center
Aurora West Allis Medical Center
8901 W. Lincoln Ave.
West Allis, WI 53227
(414) 328-6640
Aurora Rehabilitation Center
2424 S. 90th St., Suite 202
West Allis, WI 53227
(414) 328-6690
Rehabilitation Day Program
Aurora West Allis Medical Center
8901 W. Lincoln Ave.
West Allis, WI 53227
(414) 328-6630
Racine County
Aurora Wellness Center Burlington
300 McCanna Parkway
Burlington, WI 53105
(262) 767-7120
Racine Razor Sharp Fitness Center
7300 Washington Avenue
Racine, WI 53406
(262) 321-6000
Walworth County
Aurora Lakeland Medical Center
W3985 County Road NN
Elkhorn, WI 53121
(262)741-2147
Aurora Rehabilitation Center in Lake Geneva
146 East Geneva Square
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 249-4670
Aurora Rehabilitation Center in Delavan
830 East Geneva Street
Delavan, WI 53115
(262) 728-9164
Washington County
Aurora Rehabilitation Center
Aurora Health Center
1640 E. Sumner St.
Hartford, WI 53027
(262) 670-4300
Aurora Rehabilitation Center
Aurora Health Center
1048 E. Commerce Blvd.
Slinger, WI 53086
(262) 644-6268
Aurora Rehabilitation Center/Aurora Sports Medicine Institute
1100 Gateway Ct.
West Bend, WI 53095
(262) 306-6100
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