RESULTS Studies of task-related training showed benefits for functional outcome compared with traditional therapies .
Active use of task-oriented training with stroke survivors will lead to improvements in functional outcomes and overall health-related quality of life .
CONCLUSION Generally , task-oriented rehabilitation proved to be more effective .
Many interventions are feasible for nurses and can be performed in a ward or at home .
AIM This paper is a report of a review conducted to provide an overview of the evidence in the literature on task-oriented training of stroke survivors and its relevance in daily nursing practice .
BACKGROUND Stroke is the second leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of adult disability in the Western world .
The use of neurodevelopmental treatment in the daily nursing care of stroke survivors does not improve clinical outcomes .
Nurses are therefore exploring other forms of rehabilitation intervention , including task-oriented rehabilitation .
Despite the growing number of studies showing evidence on task-oriented interventions , recommendations for daily nursing practice are lacking .
Little therapy, little physical activity: rehabilitation within the first 14 days of organized stroke unit care.
OBJECTIVE To examine rehabilitation interventions and result ing physical activity patterns of patients managed in acute stroke units to help inform development of a r and omized controlled trial of very early rehabilitation . DESIGN An open observational study of patient activity and therapist report of patient interventions . A survey of stroke unit re sources . METHODS Patients less than 14 days post-stroke from 5 metropolitan stroke units were observed over 2 consecutive weekdays at 10-minute intervals between 08.00 h and 17.00 h. Physical activity , location and person(s ) present were ascertained at each observation . Therapists completed treatment records . Senior staff completed stroke unit surveys . RESULTS Patients after stroke ( n=58 ) were with therapists 5.2 % of the observed day . Few patients ( 17.1 % ) received  daily therapy  by more than one therapist . When patients received therapy , average session times were 24 minutes of physiotherapy , 23 minutes of occupational therapy and 33 minutes of speech pathology .  The more time that family members were present , the longer the treatment time . Four to 11 min of upper-limb therapy was provided . Muscle weakness and left hemiparesis were associated with less upper-limb activity . CONCLUSION These acute stroke care units were re source d according to recommended staff-patient ratios . Patients received little therapy and had low levels of physical activity
RESULTS Studies of task-related training showed benefits for functional outcome compared with traditional therapies .
Active use of task-oriented training with stroke survivors will lead to improvements in functional outcomes and overall health-related quality of life .
CONCLUSION Generally , task-oriented rehabilitation proved to be more effective .
Many interventions are feasible for nurses and can be performed in a ward or at home .
AIM This paper is a report of a review conducted to provide an overview of the evidence in the literature on task-oriented training of stroke survivors and its relevance in daily nursing practice .
BACKGROUND Stroke is the second leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of adult disability in the Western world .
The use of neurodevelopmental treatment in the daily nursing care of stroke survivors does not improve clinical outcomes .
Nurses are therefore exploring other forms of rehabilitation intervention , including task-oriented rehabilitation .
Despite the growing number of studies showing evidence on task-oriented interventions , recommendations for daily nursing practice are lacking .