Innovations and Novel Trends in Neurological Rehabilitation
If brain reorganization and functional recovery from brain lesions is dependent on use and activity, then the rehabilitation environment is likely to play an important role in patient outcomes. The rehabilitation environment is made up of the physical or built environment (the physical setting), the methods used to deliver rehabilitation (type of intervention, intensity, dosage) and the staff (their knowledge, skill, attitudes, and their ability to teach). Observational studies of rehabilitation settings provide insights into how patients spend their days, suggesting that the environment may not be sufficiently geared to facilitating physical and mental activity or social interaction, and that it may not function as a learning environment. Other studies suggest that a large percentage of the patient's day is spent in passive pursuits rather than in physical activity. The issue of how much time is spent on physical activity, including practice of motor tasks, and how t...