Recovering from a stroke is a deeply personal journey, and finding the right support can make all the difference. At UofL Health, we offer a full continuum of rehabilitation services designed to help patients regain strength, independence and confidence at every stage of recovery. From specialized inpatient and outpatient therapy to community support groups, our team is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to each individual’s goals.

Inpatient Care at UofL Health – Frazier Rehabilitation Institute

At Frazier Rehabilitation Institute, Kentucky’s No. 1 rehab provider, our nationally accredited Stroke Program helps patients regain strength, independence and quality of life after a stroke. As a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)-accredited specialty brain injury program, we care for more than 500 stroke patients each year, about one in four of all our admissions. Most patients spend around two weeks in our inpatient program, where they receive personalized therapy, medical support and education to prepare for life after rehab.

Learn More About the Stroke Rehab Program

Vagus Nerve Stimulation

UofL Health is the first in the region to offer patients a new outpatient therapy option for stroke recovery, helping them improve arm and hand function even years after their stroke.

This FDA-approved neurostimulation device, called Vivistim®, pairs vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) with the patient’s rehabilitation therapy and daily activities. This pairing helps strengthen the brain connections needed to improve hand and arm function, making the therapy two to three times more effective.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does it Work?

The system is designed to help increase neuroplasticity to help you improve your hand and arm movements. During rehabilitation exercises and at-home activities, the device is activated to gently stimulate the brain via the vagus nerve. This boost to the brain helps strengthen and create new neural pathways, like building a new bridge to bypass the damaged area. When the therapy enhances the brain’s neural activity, it establishes lasting connections that persist even when the device is not in use.

What Does the Treatment Process Look Like?

The neurostimulation device is implanted by a neurosurgeon during a same-day, outpatient procedure. The small medical device (similar to a pacemaker) that can fit in the palm of a hand, is placed under the skin in the upper left chest wall
and neck region during a short outpatient procedure.
When you are cleared for physical activity by your surgeon, you will start the therapy portion with a therapist in a rehabilitation setting. The therapist will use a remote that sends a wireless signal to the implanted device via a laptop computer, which delivers a brief, gentle pulse to the vagus nerve while you perform various rehabilitation tasks. This in-clinic rehabilitation therapy typically lasts six weeks, a few times per week.
Therapy is also done outside the rehabilitation environment (e.g. at home), and you are encouraged to start this part of rehabilitation as early as the first day of therapy in the clinic. You can activate a session on your own with a simple swipe of the device’s magnet.

Who May Be a Candidate for Vagus Nerve Stimulation?

The system is designed for stroke survivors who still have arm or hand weakness after an ischemic stroke—even if their stroke occurred many years ago. While patients must be at least six months post-stroke to qualify, there is no time limit on when they can begin this therapy. Many people who believed their recovery had plateaued are now seeing meaningful improvement through this approach.

A rehabilitation specialist can help determine whether this therapy is a good fit for your recovery goals. If you’re ready to explore whether this type of therapy could support your stroke rehabilitation, talk with your care team or schedule a consultation with a rehabilitation specialist by calling 502-588-2160. Additional details about the therapy are available at Vivistim.com.