What is the primary purpose of the Brunnstrom approach in stroke rehabilitation?

The Brunnstrom approach in stroke rehabilitation primarily focuses on facilitating recovery from the effects of a stroke through a structured progression of movement patterns. This method emphasizes the natural recovery processes that occur in individuals following a stroke and encourages the use of pathological reflexes and coordination that might arise during the early stages of recovery.

The approach identifies specific stages of recovery and works to help the patient progress through these stages by promoting voluntary movement and motor control. By facilitating recovery, therapists use the Brunnstrom method to help individuals regain motor function and improve their ability to perform daily activities. Thus, this approach is centered on enhancing the overall rehabilitation outcomes by encouraging neuroplasticity and functional recovery, which are crucial for the rehabilitation process after a stroke.