For a patient who has had a stroke and is participating in PT/OT, which approach best supports recovery when fatigue is present?

• A. Push through fatigue with intense sessions.
• B. Pause therapy and reschedule for another day.
• C. Schedule therapy with energy conservation strategies and breaks.
• D. Stop therapy temporarily.

Answer: (C)

Fatigue after a stroke is common and can limit how well a patient engages and learns during rehab. The best approach is to plan therapy around the person’s energy level, using energy-conservation strategies and built-in breaks. This pacing lets meaningful, quality practice continue without overexertion, supporting safer movement, better concentration, and longer-term recovery. Short, well-timed sessions with rest periods also teach the patient how to manage energy in daily activities, which is essential for real-world function. Pushing through fatigue typically worsens movement quality, increases the risk of errors or falls, and can slow recovery. Pausing or stopping therapy or delaying sessions removes opportunities to practice and learn energy-management skills, whereas integrating breaks and conservation strategies within therapy maintains progress.