[Occupational medicine and ergonomics for post-stroke patient return to work]

In the literature, the treatment of the topic of return to work in post-stroke patients has been influenced by a predominantly medical approach, at the expense of the integrated consideration of organizational, psychosocial and individual aspects that greatly influence the possibility of an effective return to work. Although integration policies are envisaged in European countries, there are often scarce or no concrete measures that favour the activation of people with residual disabilities, or aim at workplace adaptation. The work presented here aims to provide a concise overview, according to recent literature, of the factors that facilitate or hinder the return to work process in the post-stroke patient and of possible ergonomic interventions. Considering return to work as a multifactorial outcome, it seems necessary, for the Occupational Physician in collaboration with the other interested figures, to implement a paradigm shift in the design of return to work programs to respond more satisfactorily to the important challenges posed by a disabling disease such as stroke.