Do Your Stroke Therapists Really Care?

In “Does Your Stroke Therapist Really Care?” author, Norberto Cisneros, takes physical and occupational therapists to task for their one-size fits all approach to stroke rehabilitation. After a massive stroke paralyzed the entire left side of his body, Mr. Cisneros worked with numerous therapists in hopes of recovering his nonfunctional limbs. In his estimation, his rehab treatments fell far short of the goal of full recovery. His experiences revealed embedded biases against older patients’ recovery, and other obstacles to therapy caused by unrealistic plateaus imposed by doctors and insurance companies. In his quest for the truth about his own non-recovery, Mr. Cisneros doubts the efficacy of current methods used by therapists to treat stroke patients. Although his analysis reveals admiration for their best work, he also cites disappointment at their general “lack of urgency,” in particular when treating older patients. Mr. Cisneros has written “Does Your Stroke Therapist Really Care?” in hopes of providing therapists and the healthcare community new ideas to consider in its approach to stroke treatment.