Despite major advances in the prevention and acute treatment of stroke, many stroke survivors have permanent motor and/or cognitive damage after a stroke. About a quarter of stroke survivors can only cope with everyday life with the help of others. Therefore, stroke rehabilitation is of utmost importance. Stroke rehabilitation should start already in the first days after stroke onset. Neuroplasticity plays an important role in this phase and includes all mechanisms of neuronal reorganization, such as synaptogenesis, growth of dendrites, sprouting of axons, development of new pathways to replace the damaged ones, and activation of silent but intact synapses. These complex processes offer great potential for intervention. In addition to classical therapies such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, the use of enhancing agents (e.g. antidepressants, dopamine, etc.) or technical devices (e.g. transcranial magnetic stimulation, virtual reality devices, robotics, etc.) are promising approaches to facilitate and promote motor and cognitive recovery after stroke.

Research in the field of stroke rehabilitation is carried out as joint initiatives with Neurology/Neurorehabilitation at the FELIX PLATTER Hospital (UAFP) and in close cooperation with the surrounding rehabilitation clinics. Since several years a defined interhospital stroke pathway – USB-UAFP is established which combines and facilitates the interplay between acute care and stroke rehabilitation clinically as well as allowing cross-hospital clinical research projects.