Improvement of ADL performance by occupational therapy for a stroke patient with pusher syndrome:

Long-term process of relearning of postural vertical

Abstract

It has been reported that pusher syndrome was eliminated in almost 80% of affected patients within three months after stroke. However, prolongation of pusher syndrome results in reduced ADL performance and extended hospitalization. As Subjective Postural Vertical (SPV) is a mechanism of pusher syndrome, we intervened with long-term occupational therapy which was graded for the components of the SPV. As a result, pusher syndrome was reduced, and ADL performance was improved, indicating that long-term graded occupational therapy increases the understanding the pathogenesis of pusher syndrome.