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Rehabilitation of the younger adult stroke patient

P Makela, U Hammerbeck and DN Rushton

Stroke is often seen as an affliction of the elderly, in whom indeed it is the most common single cause of long-term disability. However, stroke in the younger adult age groups is not uncommon and deserves special consideration, as the needs of younger people tend to be different in certain important respects. These include employment, family and childcare responsibilities and driving. The causes, pathology, epidemiology, comorbidities, investigation and acute management of their stroke may also differ. For example, there is more likely to be a hematological, vasculitic or metabolic cause. These differences may have a knock-on effect on rehabilitation. A review of younger stroke rehabilitation therefore does require some attention with regards to the events in the pathway leading to rehabilitation and how they are organized.