Non-drug neurological therapy in an acute stroke unit

Non-drug neurological therapy of acute stroke is an essential principle of acute stroke units beside early diagnostic procedures, innovative drug ther apies and continuous clinical and instrumental monitoring of the patients. The concepts of stroke rehabilitation (e.g. Bobath concept) have to be adop ted to the conditions of the acute stage of the disease and intensive core medicine. The principles of the therapy and the experiences drawn from 2 ye ars work at german stroke unit based on the interdisciplinary team work of critical ill nursing, physiotherapy, ergotherapy and therapy of aphasia are described here. Early mobilisation of the patients as well as individual t herapy of non motor disorders ore basic principles of therapy with the aim of independence as much as possible.