Correct limb positioning requires particular attention to
both upper and lower extremities to prevent or manage
further musculoskeletal complications (Mee and Bee, 2007).
Unfortunately, practical advice about repositioning affected
limbs does not tend to be promoted well in most traditional
nursing care plans or preregistration nursing programmes.
Supplementary guidance from specially trained rehabilitation
therapists and national guidelines such as NICE (2013) are
necessary to inform best practice. Ward-based nurses need to
be instilled with the latest evidence-based knowledge, skills
and confidence to implement effective limb positioning and
effective rehabilitative care for stroke patients, as they often
refrain as a result of the fear of doing something wrong
or of causing pain and distress to a relatively new stroke
patient. Optimal rehabilitative care delivery needs to be free
from conflicting advice, as this could be hampering current
practice and mobilisation efforts from being implemented
with stroke patients undergoing general ward-based care.