Physical Therapists (PTs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) play an important role in stroke recovery. Although you might think strength is one of the greatest concerns you have in stroke recovery, a review of 151 studies showed that focusing only on developing strength does improve function, but not to the degree that a comprehensive skills-building program can.
23. Nijland RHM, van Wegen EEH, Harmeling-van der Wel BC, Kwakkel G, Investigators E. Presence of finger extension and shoulder abduction exercise equipment for stroke patients within 72 hours after stroke predicts functional recovery early prediction of functional outcome after stroke: The EPOS cohort study.

Through studies of motor learning and motor control evidence shows that for effective learning and muscle re-education to take place practice of exercises needs to be intensive and frequent 19 The most rapid recovery occurs within the first 3 months post stroke and therefore during this time frame patients need intensive rehabilitation therapy.
Additionally, the current Early supported discharge (ESD) plan, for stroke patients with mild to moderate disability, only runs for on average 6 weeks 25 Due to the current economic status of the NHS this is not likely to improve therefore more intensive rehabilitation strategies need to be introduced in order to improve outcomes for stroke patients.
While teaching self-regulation knowledge and skills is important, older patients, or those with worse executive impairments, may benefit from a programmatic shift of emphasis towards PA and exercise behaviour per se, for example, through modelling, structure and reinforcement.

31 From meta-analysis, self-efficacy with respect to each of balance (r2 =0.14) and falls (r2 =0.16) was reported to have significant positive correlations with poststroke PA. 29 Risk factors associated with falling include impaired mobility, reduced balance, use of sedative or psychotropic medications, impaired self-care, depression, cognitive impairment and previous falling.
Creating new and innovative rehabilitation options for many different groups of patients but most notably those with neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis 30 Two currently developing softwares for the rehabilitation of neurological conditions that we will explore further are VirtualRehab and Jintronix.
Other issues that interfere with recovery after a stroke include problems such as muscle atrophy (thinning of the muscles) from lack of use and muscle spasticity (stiffness of the muscles due to brain damage) that can make it difficult to move around.

In addition to improvement in measures of quality of life, functional capacity and mobility (eg, increasing gait velocity), neurological impairment, and motor function (eg, lowering the energy cost of a hemiparetic gait), 3 major rehabilitation goals for the stroke patient are preventing complications of prolonged inactivity, decreasing recurrent stroke and cardiovascular events, and increasing aerobic fitness.
A recent review of 13 studies including 517 stroke patients with mild to moderate impairment of their arms found that strengthening hands and arms with small weights, resistance bands, and pulley weights could be done without increasing spasticity and pain.