Managing Sensory Impairments in Stroke: What Clinicians Do and How Technology Helps

What is it about?

Many stroke survivors lose not only movement ability, but also touch and body awareness, affecting daily life. Yet these sensory problems are often overlooked in clinical routine. Meanwhile, new rehabilitation technologies can make therapy more effective. To better understand current practice, we carried out a survey with 132 physiotherapists and occupational therapists working with stroke survivors in public hospitals and rehabilitation centres in Singapore. We asked them how much time they spend on treating sensory problems, which methods and assessments they use, and how they view technology in rehabilitation. With recent advancements in technology, we surveyed whether therapists are generally ready to embrace them. The results showed that ~ 64% of therapists spend less than half of their therapy time each week on sensory-focused treatment. The main method used to retrain sensory functions was functional or task-based training, where patients practice meaningful daily activities. When it came to assessments, non-standardised methods were used much more often than structured tests. The most common structured tools were the Fugl-Meyer Assessment - Sensory subscale and the Nottingham Sensory Assessment. Although therapists rarely used technology to assess sensory problems, the majority (87%) reported using some form of technology in treatment. Most agreed that robotic devices combined with conventional therapy can be effective, particularly for improving body position sense (proprioception). However, there were clear challenges to using such technology, including high cost, lack of space in clinics, and difficulties with usability.

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Photo by Manny Becerra on Unsplash

Photo by Manny Becerra on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study is important because it shows that sensory problems after stroke, which strongly affect recovery and quality of life, are often overlooked in typical rehabilitation. By identifying how therapists currently manage these impairments and the limited use of standardised assessments, it highlights a gap in care. It also reveals both the promise and barriers of using technology, pointing to the need for clearer guidelines and more accessible tools so that stroke survivors receive more complete and effective rehabilitation.

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