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Stroke Rehabilitation Sydney

Stroke

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Specialised stroke rehab in Ryde, Petersham and Penrith

Every stroke journey is unique, influenced by the nature of the brain injury, the abilities impacted, and your personal goals. That’s why your rehabilitation should be just as individual.

At Royal Rehab LifeWorks, we combine expert therapy with cutting-edge technology to deliver highly personalised stroke rehabilitation. Our goal is to support your recovery by helping you relearn skills, regain confidence, and achieve meaningful independence. With a focus on outcomes that matter to you, we’re here to help you move forward with clarity, capability, and care.

We provide stroke rehabilitation at three Sydney locations, including Ryde, Petersham and Penrith.

Stroke rehabilitation targets

  • Mobility and balance: Enhance ability to stand, walk, and manage the risk of falling.
  • Muscle strength: Build and maintain strength to support overall physical function.
  • Fatigue: Implement strategies to improve energy levels and endurance.
  • Arm and hand use: Increase use and strength of upper limbs.
  • Swallowing difficulties: Reduce the risk of choking and ensure safe, enjoyable eating and drinking.
  • Speech and communication: Develop clearer and more effective communication skills.
  • Nutritional support: Optimise diet, where necessary including advice on enteral feeding.
  • Cognitive function: Enhance memory and problem-solving abilities.
  • Mental wellbeing: Support psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing.
  • Independence: Enhance independence through home modifications, adaptive equipment, and assistive technologies.

Your program may include

Neurological physiotherapy
By focusing on neuroplasticity, movement, strength, and everyday function, our physiotherapists support recovery with targeted techniques.
  • Task-specific training: Practising real-life movements to retrain the brain, helping with walking, siting, standing, and moving independently.
  • Building strength: Tailored exercises strengthen weakened muscles, improving stability and preventing further strength loss.
  • Enhancing balance and coordination: Specialised exercises improve balance and coordination, reducing the risk of falls and improving ability to engage in functional tasks.
  • Improving arm and hand function: Strengthening and coordination exercises help restore movement and dexterity in affected limbs.
  • Managing muscle stiffness: Stretching and positioning techniques help reduce tightness and improve comfort.
  • Reducing pain: Physiotherapy helps alleviate joint and muscle pain caused by imbalances or improper movement.
  • Preventing complications: Regular movement and therapy help reduce the risk of issues like pressure sores, contractures, and blood clots.
  • Boosting confidence and wellbeing: Achieving progress through physiotherapy can enhance self-esteem and overall quality of life.
Occupational therapy
By focusing on practical skills and adaptive strategies, occupational therapists empower you to navigate daily challenges more effectively.
  • Enhancing independence: Learn new techniques to perform everyday activities such as dressing, cooking, and bathing with greater ease.
  • Improving arm and hand function: Strengthening and coordination exercises help restore movement and dexterity in affected limbs.
  • Enhancing vision and perception: Techniques and adaptive strategies can help manage visual impairments and spatial awareness challenges.
  • Home and environment adaptations: Therapists provide recommendations for home modifications, such as grab bars or adaptive equipment, to improve safety and accessibility.
  • Conserving energy and managing fatigue: Learn strategies to pace activities, conserve energy, and prevent overexertion.
  • Return to work and community activities: Tailored strategies help individuals regain skills needed for work, hobbies, and social engagement.
Speech pathology
A stroke can affect the ability to speak, understand language, and even swallow. Speech therapy plays a vital role in helping individuals regain these essential skills, improving both independence and quality of life.
  • Improving communication skills: help express thoughts more clearly, understand spoken language, and engage in meaningful conversations. This may involve exercises to improve word retrieval, sentence structure, pronunciation, and overall clarity.
  • Managing aphasia: aphasia affects the ability to speak, read, write, or understand language. Speech therapy provides structured exercises to strengthen these skills, helping individuals communicate more effectively.
  • Improving swallowing: Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) is common after a stroke and can lead to choking or aspiration pneumonia. Speech therapists assess swallowing function and provide targeted exercises to strengthen throat and mouth muscles, making eating and drinking safer and more comfortable.
  • Alternative communication strategies: If verbal speech remains difficult, therapists introduce alternative methods such as picture boards, gestures, or assistive communication devices to help individuals express themselves in new ways.
  • Cognitive rehabilitation: Communication is closely linked to cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. Speech therapy can incorporate cognitive exercises to help individuals improve thinking and language skills, supporting everyday interactions.
  • Enhancing emotional wellbeing and confidence: Losing the ability to communicate can be frustrating and isolating. Speech therapy not only restores language skills but also helps rebuild confidence, reducing feelings of frustration and improving social engagement.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy, or aquatic therapy, is highly beneficial in stoke rehab due to the buoyancy and warmth of water.
  • Improving balance and coordination: The buoyancy of water offers support, reducing the risk of falls and allowing you to practice balance exercises with greater confidence, which is key to regaining stability and independence.
  • Increasing muscle strength: Water resistance naturally provides a form of resistance during movement, helping to build muscle strength in weakened areas, even for individuals with limited mobility.
  • Enhancing range of motion: The warm temperature of the water helps relax muscles and reduce stiffness, promoting greater joint mobility and flexibility.
  • Managing pain: The soothing warmth of the water can alleviate muscle pain and spasms, helping to relax the body and reduce discomfort.
  • Improving gait and walking ability: Practicing walking in water can help you relearn proper gait patterns and improve walking ability by offering a low-impact way to work on movement.
  • Reducing spasticity: The buoyancy and resistance of water can help manage muscle spasticity (muscle tightness), a common issue after a stroke, by providing gentle movement and reducing strain.
  • Proprioceptive training: The water provides sensory input, enhancing body awareness, which is often impaired after a stroke, helping you regain a better sense of movement and positioning.
  • Enhancing cardiovascular fitness: Aquatic exercises improve cardiovascular fitness, supporting overall physical recovery and stamina.
  • Enhancing psychological wellbeing: The supportive, weightless environment of water can boost confidence and motivation, helping you maintain a positive mindset throughout your rehabilitation journey.
Dietetics
Addressing nutritional needs, promoting recovery, and supporting long-term health, our dietitians play a key role in stroke rehabilitation through personalised dietary strategies.
  • Supporting brain recovery: Nutrient-rich diets help fuel brain healing and support neuroplasticity after stroke.
  • Managing swallowing difficulties: Dietitians work with speech pathologists to modify food textures and ensure safe, enjoyable eating.
  • Preventing malnutrition: Individualised plans help maintain weight, energy levels, and muscle mass during recovery.
  • Promoting heart health: Heart-smart diets support blood pressure and cholesterol management to reduce the risk of another stroke.
  • Controlling blood sugar: Nutrition strategies help manage diabetes or fluctuating blood sugar levels that may impact recovery.
  • Addressing appetite and taste changes: Tailored advice helps navigate changes in hunger or taste sensitivity post-stroke.
  • Supporting bowel health: Diet can help manage common issues like constipation through fibre, fluids, and meal planning.
  • Encouraging independence: Dietitians provide practical tips for meal preparation, food choices, and grocery shopping to support daily living skills.
  • Improving overall wellbeing: A balanced, enjoyable diet contributes to mood, energy, and motivation throughout the rehabilitation journey.
Exercise physiology
Using tailored, evidence-based movement programs, our exercise physiologists focus on rebuilding strength, restoring function, and improving overall health and wellbeing.
  • Enhancing physical function: Structured exercise helps regain mobility, endurance, and independence in daily activities.
  • Improving cardiovascular health: Aerobic exercise supports heart and lung function, reducing the risk of future strokes.
  • Building strength and endurance: Targeted resistance training combats muscle weakness and fatigue following stroke.
  • Enhancing balance and coordination: Exercises are designed to improve stability, reducing falls and promoting safer movement.
  • Supporting neuroplasticity: Repetitive, meaningful movement patterns help the brain rewire and adapt for recovery.
  • Managing fatigue: Graded exercise programs are designed to improve energy levels and reduce stroke-related fatigue.
  • Addressing chronic conditions: Programs consider co-existing conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or obesity.
  • Encouraging long-term self-management: Education and home-based exercise plans empower individuals to maintain their progress.
  • Boosting mood and motivation: Physical activity supports mental health, confidence, and a sense of control over recovery.
Adaptive recreation
Adaptive recreation supports stroke recovery by promoting physical activity, social connection, and enjoyment through modified leisure and community-based activities.
  • Encouraging physical activity: Recreational activities are adapted to improve mobility, strength, and overall fitness in a fun, engaging way.
  • Rebuilding confidence: Participation in enjoyable, achievable activities fosters independence and a sense of accomplishment.
  • Supporting social connection: Group-based programs help reduce isolation and promote peer support and community engagement.
  • Enhancing emotional wellbeing: Leisure activities provide purpose, reduce stress, and support positive mental health.
  • Improving coordination and motor skills: Recreational tasks like art, games, or sport-based activities help refine fine and gross motor function.
  • Fostering inclusion: Activities are tailored to individual abilities, ensuring everyone can participate meaningfully and safely.
  • Promoting lifelong habits: Encourages sustainable engagement in healthy recreation and leisure beyond the rehab setting.
  • Exploring new interests: Adaptive recreation provides opportunities to discover new hobbies and redefine life post-stroke.
  • Integrating into the community: Programs help individuals access inclusive community facilities and events with confidence.
Driving assessments
Our driver-trained occupational therapists assess and support stroke survivors in safely returning to, continuing, or beginning to drive, with personalised strategies and training.
  • Assessing driving ability: Comprehensive evaluations identify how stroke has affected the physical, cognitive, and sensory skills needed for safe driving.
  • Rebuilding confidence: Practical support and gradual exposure help reduce anxiety and rebuild self-assurance behind the wheel.
  • Promoting independence: Regaining or maintaining the ability to drive supports autonomy, community access, and quality of life.
  • Tailoring interventions: Individualised programs may include in-vehicle assessments, simulator sessions, or off-road testing.
  • Recommending modifications: Advice on vehicle modifications ensures comfort, safety, and ease of use.
  • Supporting decision-making: Clear guidance helps individuals and families make informed, safe choices about continuing or returning to driving.
  • Liaising with medical and licensing authorities: Therapists can assist with documentation and communication for fitness-to-drive determinations.
  • Providing alternative transport solutions: If driving is no longer safe, therapists can help explore other mobility and transport options.
  • Promoting long-term road safety: Ongoing support focuses on maintaining safe driving habits and responding to any future changes in ability.
Upper limb program
Our upper limb rehabilitation program offers a comprehensive and evidence-based approach, combining therapy and advanced technology to help you regain strength, function, and independence in your arm and hand.
  • Movement retraining: Hands-on support from your therapist to improve range of motion to allow for more functional use of your affected upper limb including improved ability to grasp and release objects.
  • Strength building: Exercises to strengthen affected upper limb muscles, including gym programs.
  • Repetitive task practice: Repeating parts of a movement and practicing the full task you’re working towards.
  • Sensory retraining: Activities to improve how your arm or hand senses touch and movement.
  • Spasticity management: Discussing targeted treatments and strategies for managing muscle spasticity.
  • Advanced technologies: Use of advanced technology devices including end effector, exoskeleton, virtual reality and sensor-based devices to allow for high repetition of supported movements. The advanced tech devices improve engagement through gamification.
  • Electrical stimulation: Using devices like Neurotrac and Xcite to activate and strengthen muscles.
  • Electromyography: Using devices like Luna EMG to monitor electrical signals and trigger upper limb movements.
  • Mindfulness techniques: Using mirror therapy and mental rehearsal to retrain your brain and improve movement.
  • Equipment prescription: This can include adaptive equipment such as cutlery or supportive equipment like a sling or a splint.
  • Education and pain management: Learning strategies to avoid unhelpful habits, improve positioning, and manage pain.
  • Carer involvement: Training for your support worker or family member to help you continue therapy at home.
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NDIS Funding
Medicare funding
MyAgedCare funding
Health insurance

Meet the team

It’s not about ticking boxes — it’s about seeing the whole person and helping them feel heard, valued, and empowered.

Madeline
Occupational Therapist
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Our locations

New South Wales

Ryde Petersham Collaroy Penrith Ryde-Eastwood Dubbo

Queensland

Cairns Townsville Brisbane Atherton

Victoria

Melbourne
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1800 518 180
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In the spirit of reconciliation, Royal Rehab acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future and we extend our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples.

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