This finding stems from the work of Dr. Dennis Feeney, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of New Mexico. In studies done with rats, Dr. Feeney found that amphetamines work when the animal is free to move around. When prevented from moving, they did not improve. It is the combination of the two factors that brings on the effect. This was confirmed in clinical trials with humans.
Patients taking dummy pills tend to reach a plateau after a few months of physical therapy.
A year later, long after both groups are not taking pills, the patients who took amphetamines are far ahead of those who did not. The NY Times article cautions that this treatment is experimental and that it may not be appropriate for elderly with heart disorders or other serious ailments. Stroke is a terribly disabling disorder effecting about 730,000 individuals each year. Any step in alleviating the residuals of this event is a welcome addition to the rehabilitation process. The Wall Street Journal reported on February 5,1999, that a drug in experimental stage may help patients fully recover from severe strokes when treated as late as 6 hours after the onset of symptoms.