Stroke rehabilitation

A stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. This may be as a result of a blood clot that blocks the artery supplying the brain (ischemic stroke), or it may be a hemorrhagic stroke in which a blood vessel bursts in or around the brain. In either event, the brain is deprived of much-needed oxygen and succumbs to a stroke. Symptoms of a stroke are weakness on one side of the body, loss of motor function, slurred speech, severe headache, blurring or loss of vision and impaired coordination.

Stroke rehabilitation can be complex depending on the extent of the injury, and the results unpredictable. Physiotherapy is always recommended and will often involve other professionals, including an occupational therapist and a speech therapist. Following a stroke, a person may present with flaccidity (floppy or low tone) or spasticity (tight, high tone). As your physiotherapist we will use various techniques to normalise this.

Other goals of physiotherapy will be to:

• Restore function to paralysed limbs
• Improve transfers and gait
• Provide wheelchairs and other mobility devices, if necessary
• Help the patient perform activities of daily living – bathing, dressing, self-feeding etc.
• Increase range-of-motion
• Splinting to keep the hand in a functional position if necessary) and prevent contractures and deformity

Some techniques employed by physiotherapy include:

• Manual therapy to reduce swelling and improve range of motion
• Stretching exercises to improve range-of-motion and produce flexibility
• Massage to reduce swelling and increase blood flow
• Electrical stimulation to restore movement to paralysed limbs
• Strengthening exercises to restore muscle strength to weakened muscles

Stroke rehabilitation does not always result in one regaining complete recovery, however in most cases it helps the person become as functional as possible and teaches new ways of living while coping with the disability. If you have any concerns, please get in touch with us.