Surreal illustration of stroke recovery at home with family support and assistive technology.

Stroke Recovery at Home: How Occupational Therapy is Bridging the Gap

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research reveals how occupational therapists are creatively using home programs to extend rehabilitation and improve upper extremity function for stroke survivors."

Recovering from a stroke often involves regaining motor skills, especially in the upper extremities. However, the journey doesn't end in the clinic. Many occupational therapists (OTs) are now prescribing home programs designed to continue motor recovery post-stroke. But how are these programs designed, and what makes them effective?

New insights into neural plasticity have revolutionized our understanding of stroke recovery. This has spurred the development of new interventions to support motor recovery. Yet, translating these techniques into everyday rehabilitation practice can be challenging, as many patients receive fewer therapy sessions than research suggests are optimal.

To address this gap, a recent survey explored how OTs are approaching home programs for stroke survivors, focusing on strategies to boost adherence and the role of technology. The findings shed light on current practices and offer valuable insights for improving at-home rehabilitation.

Crafting Effective Home Programs: OT Strategies Unveiled

Surreal illustration of stroke recovery at home with family support and assistive technology.

The survey, involving 73 occupational therapy practitioners, revealed key trends in how OTs design and implement home programs. A significant majority (n = 53) reported consistently creating home programs focused on upper extremity motor recovery.

When it comes to specific interventions, range of motion and strengthening exercises topped the list. However, the most successful programs went beyond rote exercises, incorporating the client's individual goals and interests to make the activities more meaningful.

Personalized Activities: Programs are tailored to the client's unique goals and interests, fostering greater engagement.
Education and Instruction: Clear guidance, often with handouts or pictures, helps clients understand and perform exercises correctly.
Real-Life Application: Integration of daily living activities ensures that exercises translate into practical improvements in everyday tasks.

While high-tech solutions are gaining traction, traditional methods still dominate. Paper handouts remain a staple, with 89% of OTs using them frequently. Visual demonstrations and direct training also play a crucial role in ensuring clients understand and can perform the exercises safely and effectively. The survey revealed a limited adoption of technology and specific strategies to support adherence.

Boosting Adherence: The Key to Successful Home Programs

The survey highlighted that personal motivation is the primary driver of adherence, followed by the support of family and caregivers. Conversely, low motivation, cognitive impairments, and lack of support were identified as major barriers.

Interestingly, while OTs recognized the importance of client motivation, many reported limited use of specific strategies to boost adherence, such as mobile apps or gaming devices. This suggests a gap between awareness and implementation that needs to be addressed.

Future research should focus on understanding how to better support client motivation and translate new technologies into practical, user-friendly tools. By bridging this gap, we can empower stroke survivors to take control of their recovery and achieve lasting improvements in upper extremity function.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1080/10749357.2017.1366013, Alternate LINK

Title: Home Programs For Upper Extremity Recovery Post-Stroke: A Survey Of Occupational Therapy Practitioners

Subject: Neurology (clinical)

Journal: Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Elena V. Donoso Brown, Renae Fichter

Published: 2017-09-08

Everything You Need To Know

What is the purpose of home programs designed by Occupational Therapists (OTs) for stroke survivors?

Occupational Therapists (OTs) design home programs to continue motor recovery post-stroke, especially for upper extremities. These programs are crucial because many patients don't receive enough therapy sessions in clinical settings. The programs extend the rehabilitation process, bridging the gap between clinical care and at-home recovery.

How has the understanding of neural plasticity influenced stroke recovery?

Neural plasticity, the brain's ability to reorganize itself, has revolutionized stroke recovery understanding. This understanding is the basis for new interventions. These interventions aim to support motor recovery. These interventions include strategies like personalized activities, educational instructions, and real-life application tasks to improve the effectiveness of home programs.

What are the key strategies used in home programs for stroke survivors?

The survey found that Occupational Therapists (OTs) create home programs focusing on upper extremity motor recovery. Common interventions include range of motion and strengthening exercises. The most successful programs integrate the client's individual goals and interests, emphasizing personalized activities, education, and real-life application to ensure practical improvements in daily tasks.

What factors are most important for stroke survivors to stick with their home programs, and what makes it difficult?

Personal motivation is the most critical factor for adherence to home programs, followed by family and caregiver support. Conversely, low motivation, cognitive impairments, and lack of support are significant barriers. Addressing these barriers is crucial for ensuring patients actively participate in their rehabilitation. These interventions include strategies like personalized activities, educational instructions, and real-life application tasks to improve the effectiveness of home programs.

What methods are commonly used in home programs, and how does technology play a role?

Traditional methods like paper handouts are still widely used in home programs. Visual demonstrations and direct training help clients understand and safely perform exercises. While high-tech solutions are emerging, the survey shows they are not yet widely adopted. The focus remains on ensuring that clients understand the exercises and can apply them effectively, regardless of the method.