Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with chronic pain and body perception disturbance common following a stroke. 
The results of an online survey of individuals who had experienced one or more strokes point to a new characteristic of chronic pain in stroke. This raises the possibility of body perception disturbance being a rehabilitation target to improve function and pain-related outcomes for stroke survivors.

The research study’s findings have been summarised by the PRF and transformed into this infographic. To read the research abstract, click here. Click on the image below to access a printable A3 file.

About the authors:

Brendon Haslam APAM, MACP is a highly experienced Pain Physiotherapist and Research Fellow at both La Trobe University and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. He has a particular interest and extensive experience in the areas of chronic pain, neuropathic pain and neurology.

Dr David Butler APAM, MACP is a physiotherapist, an educationalist, a researcher and clinician. An honoured member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and an adjunct Associate Professor at the University of South Australia, David has given keynote lectures in 25 countries, authored 45 papers and chapters and has taught around 40,000 students worldwide.

Professor Lorimer Moseley APAM, FACP is Professor of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of South Australia and Senior Principal Research Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia. Having published over 300 scholarly works, Lorimer was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2020, for "distinguished service to medical research and science communication, to education, to the study of pain and its management, and to physiotherapy, to humanity at large."

Dr Anthony Kim is Associate Professor of Neurology at the Weil Institute of Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco and leads ongoing quality improvement and clinical innovation efforts as Medical Director of the UCSF Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Leeanne Carey is Professor and Founding Head of the Neurorehabilitation and Recovery research group, Stroke Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, and Discipline Lead of Occupational Therapy in the School of Allied Health, La Trobe University.

This infographic is a Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF) initiative supported by Pain Away athELITE - Platinum and Content Sponsor of the PRF.