Family: 'A win-win situation'

The most important people for stroke patients: family. Now, there's some researching finding that stroke patients benefit from family involvement in exercise therapy:

Researchers found that adding family-assisted exercise therapy to routine physical therapy after stroke improved motor function, balance, distance walked and ability to perform daily living activities. It also lowered the strain on the family member, who said participation lowered stress and was empowering.

“It’s a win-win situation for everyone,” said Emma Stokes, Ph.D., the study’s principal investigator and Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. “People with stroke, their families and healthcare providers share in the benefit.”

My own recovery was from language deficits, not physical problems, but family was incredibly important in my recovery as well. The results from this study was not a surprise, but it's good to hear: family is key.