From September 2026, Anatomy of a Stroke becomes the featured free Trial course on Physiopedia Plus (Plus). It’s free to everyone: existing Trial members can get started straight away, and anyone new can start a free Trial today (no payment details required) to take it, alongside 7 days use of the Physiopedia AI Assistant (PAI). The launch coincides with World Physiotherapy Day 2026 and its focus on cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide, and confident rehabilitation starts with knowing the anatomy behind the presentation. This September, Plus is sharing Anatomy of a Stroke as the new featured free Trial course. World Physiotherapy Day on 8 September 2026 turns the profession’s attention to cardiovascular disease and stroke, making this a great moment to build (or refresh) the knowledge that underpins good stroke care.
The course is led by Stacy Schiurring and takes around 1.5–2 hours. It follows the brain’s vascular supply as a clinical roadmap: beginning with stroke classification and the Circle of Willis, it connects each arterial territory to the deficits you’ll actually encounter in practice. By the end you’ll be able to:
- describe stroke by type and mechanism, and the clinical and rehabilitation implications of each classification
- describe the major cerebral arterial territories and the deficits associated with stroke in each territory
- discuss the clinical presentations of less common stroke types (including lacunar stroke, spinal cord infarction, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and retinal artery occlusion) and recognise when urgent escalation is required
“Informative and to the point… great for all learning styles.” – Niall Clarke, physiotherapist from Ireland
Anatomy of a Stroke forms part of the Foundations of Stroke Rehabilitation Programme, so it’s an ideal first step if you want to develop a clinically relevant, structured understanding of stroke, whether you’re newly qualified or an experienced clinician wanting to sharpen your reasoning.
Alongside this new addition, Shoulder Assessment and Treatment Principles in Overhead Athletes continues as a featured free Trial course, following consistently positive feedback from rehabilitation professionals worldwide.
If you already have a Trial account, this is a new free course waiting for you: simply log in to get started. And if you’re not a member yet, there’s never been a better time to start a Trial membership: it’s completely free, needs no payment details and gives you a genuine taster of what Plus has to offer. Beyond these two clinical courses, Trial members receive temporary access to the Physiopedia AI Assistant (PAI) for 7 days and the Plus exercise prescription and telerehabilitation platform for 2 weeks, so you can explore the full range of digital tools available through Plus.
These rotating Trial courses reflect Physiopedia’s commitment to making evidence-based rehabilitation knowledge accessible to practitioners worldwide, regardless of location or economic circumstances. Each course undergoes rigorous development and review, so you can trust that what you’re learning is accurate, current and ready to use in practice. Looking for more? Full or Pro membership provides access to more than 800 online courses and technique videos, personalised professional development portfolios, certificates, CPD points and CEUs, supporting clinicians throughout their careers.
Physiopedia Plus is a subscription site that offers internationally accredited continuing education and professional development opportunities for the global rehabilitation community in 6 languages.
Your subscription fees fund the Physiopedia charity website to keep it updated and openly accessible to all.
Your subscription also provides FREE access to Plus for rehabilitation professionals in low income countries.
There are also discounts available depending on where you live and for students.