---
title: "Stroke: Specialist Summary"
description: "Emergency signs, rehabilitation after stroke and common questions."
date: 2026-10-22
canonical: https://drmotiva.com/en/guides/stroke/
lang: en
---

# Stroke: Specialist Summary

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted by a blocked vessel or by bleeding. It is a medical emergency: if you notice sudden facial drooping, arm or leg weakness or difficulty speaking, call your emergency number immediately. Rehabilitation, which begins after acute treatment, aims to support the recovery of lost functions.

## When to see a doctor

- **Call emergency services at once:** sudden facial drooping, weakness or numbness on one side, difficulty speaking or understanding, sudden loss of vision or balance, severe headache of unknown cause
- Even if symptoms resolve quickly (transient ischaemic attack), same-day emergency assessment is needed
- After a stroke: swallowing difficulty, cough or fever, increasing involuntary muscle tightness (spasticity), shoulder pain, falls, depression or any new neurological symptom

## Treatment options

- **Acute phase:** in suitable patients, clot-dissolving or clot-removal treatment by neurology and emergency teams, emergency neurosurgery or interventional radiology procedures when needed; time is critical
- **Neurorehabilitation:** physiotherapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, cognitive therapy, speech and swallowing therapy and neuropsychological support, started as early as appropriate and at sufficient intensity
- **Robotic therapies in neurorecovery:** as part of rehabilitation, supporting walking and arm, hand and finger function
- **Brain stimulation:** repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and vagus nerve stimulation may be considered alongside rehabilitation in some patients; evidence is evolving
- **Spasticity and pain management:** exercise, orthoses and, when needed, botulinum toxin injections

Prof. Dr. Engin Çakar plans rehabilitation programmes individually after assessment, within the **DrCakar NeuroRecovery Method**.

## Frequently asked questions

**How long does recovery take?** It varies. The fastest improvement is usually in the first months, but gains are possible later; patients in the subacute and chronic phases may still have potential for functional improvement.

**When should rehabilitation start?** Early, once the patient is medically stable and the team agrees. Following the well-known “time is brain” principle, which the DrCakar NeuroRecovery Method takes into account, we recommend assessing suitability for a specialised neurorehabilitation programme, with close medical follow-up, once the patient has been stable for 3–7 days on a regular ward after intensive care or emergency treatment.

**Can a stroke happen again?** There is a risk. Controlling blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol and taking medication as prescribed help prevent recurrence.

**Is robotic therapy suitable for everyone?** Robotic therapy is now widely used in physical therapy. It helps increase the effectiveness of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Used at the right time and in the right way, it makes important contributions to relearning and recovery.

## Sources

- [AHA/ASA – Guidelines for Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery (2016)](https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STR.0000000000000098)
- [NICE NG236 – Stroke rehabilitation in adults](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng236)
- [NICE NG128 – Stroke and TIA in over 16s](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng128)
- [WHO – Stroke](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/stroke)