Mayo Clinic Minute: How vagus nerve stimulation can help some patients improve recovery from stroke

An ischemic stroke is a neurologic emergency that can be life-changing for those who survive. Many people may need speech, physical or occupational therapy to regain their abilities. Now, a device used to treat epilepsy, called a vagus nerve stimulator, also can help some patients who have had an ischemic stroke. Mayo Clinic’s Neurosurgeon Dr. Jonathon Parker explains how recent studies are showing that the combination of rehabilitation and the Vagus nerve stimulation device are helping stroke survivors gain more mobility compared to physical therapy alone.
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