Stroke Rehabilitation

Stroke is a foremost cause of disability [1, 2] and a common global health problem. One-third of people have a fatal outcome following stroke [1]. A third make a full recovery or suffer only minor complications; others are left with a permanent disability [1, 2] that limits activities of daily living and reduces social participation. The most common impairment caused by stroke is motor impairment, which is a loss or limitation of function in muscle control and mobility. Much of the emphasis of stroke rehabilitation is on the recovery of impaired movement and associated functions.
Research has revealed that, for stroke survivors, the most important goals have to do with independence, social inclusion and activity [3-5]. Ideally, assistive
devices should be provided by the healthcare system to aid stroke survivors in their recovery. However, due to limited resources or a lack of suited objects for their needs [6], individuals with disabilities in Low and Middle income countries (LMIC) do not receive these devices and have to create solutions for their daily problems themselves through ingenious approaches [7]. This results in the invention of devices that can serve their purpose. These inventions usually spring from an urgency to fulfill unmet needs, lack of financial resources to obtain what is already in the market, and lack of time, ability or resources to obtain professional services. Such inventions can provide positive contributions to sustainability as they are tailor-made to suit the user. Below are examples of homemade assistive devices, constructed to fit the user (Figure 1, Figure 2). Bespoke solutions such as these are not only fitted to the individual, but also respond to the constraints of the environment within which the individual resides.