Post stroke rehabilitation based on SMART goals: a case study

Post stroke rehabilitation has been consistently reported in physiotherapy as being difficult to manage and limiting to rehabilitation outcome. It is reported that the first few months post stroke are crucial for rehabilitation to reach a maximum potential. However, after this period further recovery is unlikely. Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-framed (SMART) goals are used for goal setting for rehabilitation. They can provide coordination between a multidisciplinary team to develop a plan for the individual needs of patients. This case study explored the use of SMART goals, which are often not used in a rehabilitation setting due to being time-consuming and difficult to create. This case report provides the first evidence that SMART goals may serve as a powerful tool for rehabilitation following stroke. The case study illustrates the clinical role of physiotherapists in the management of a patient with stroke.