NEUROPLASTICITY AND POST-ISCHEMIC STROKE REHABILITATION: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW OF AVAILABLE THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS

Abstract

Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with significant impacts on patients’ functionality and quality of life. Neurological sequelae include paresis, paresthesia, segmental paralysis, speech and language disorders, as well as memory and cognitive deficits, often requiring intensive rehabilitation. Neuroplasticity has been investigated as a basis for therapeutic interventions capable of reorganizing neural circuits and promoting functional recovery. This integrative review aimed to identify the most effective therapeutic interventions in promoting neuroplasticity in adult patients after ischemic stroke. Clinical trials and randomized clinical trials published between 2020 and 2024, with open access, were selected from the PubMed and Virtual Health Library (BVS) databases using the descriptors “neuroplasticity,” “rehabilitation,” and “stroke,” combined with the Boolean operator “AND.” Articles that were duplicated, not directly related to ischemic stroke, rehabilitation, or neuroplasticity, or that did not meet the objectives of the review were excluded. A total of 26 articles were included. Cranial stimulation was the most studied intervention, with evidence of efficacy in modulating cortical excitability. Acupuncture, virtual reality, auditory stimulation, and robotic therapies also showed positive results. The findings highlight the need for therapeutic protocols tailored to the clinical and functional profile of each patient.