The goal of stroke rehabilitation is to help you get back function that the stroke took away. Your doctor will be able to determine whether you need stroke rehabilitation and, if so, what kind of rehabilitation would help you. Most people who have had a stroke do get better. How fast and how much you improve depends on how bad your stroke was. The process of recovering your abilities begins right after the stroke is over and your condition is stable.
Some improvements occur by themselves as the brain is healing.
Stroke rehabilitation helps you keep up your abilities and gain back your lost abilities. People who have had a stroke are at increased risk of having another stroke, especially during the first year after the first stroke. Your risk of another stroke is higher if you are older, if you smoke cigarettes or if you drink alcohol a lot. The risk is also increased if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or obesity. You can lower your risk for another stroke by having regular check-ups.