Stroke Rehabilitation Physiotherapy

The process of restoring a patient back to his normal life despite the physical disabilities inherited by the patient in the course of a stroke through physical therapy or physiotherapy is known as stroke rehabilitation physiotherapy. In physical therapy rehabilitation, the casualty is re-educated with normal life skills like eating, bathing, running and walking. The patient may be unable to function normally due to this disability. In patients of stroke rehabilitation, this disability is caused because of partial and permanent damage caused to the brain due to the stroke. Treatment of stroke patients in rehabilitation centers using physical therapy entail a team of health care professionals. They care for the patients and prescribe exercises to the patients that help them recover. Patients may have to continue doing these stroke rehab exercises throughout their lives to be able to function normally. It becomes a routine in their life.

When a patient is admitted into a rehabilitation center, his response to the stroke rehabilitation physiotherapy is the best during the first twelve weeks he spends in the rehabilitation center. Physiotherapy is highly beneficial for post stroke treatment in rehabilitation as it stimulates motor learning of life skills. Mobilization of the affected limbs, elongation of muscled through stretching, passive techniques of manually rotating limbs in rhythmic motions, slow controlled movement of muscles, strengthening of muscles through various exercises are the techniques used in physiotherapy. These exercises improve balance, increase muscle strength and promote mobility. A few techniques used in physiotherapy:

1. Interventions

   These therapeutic stimuli, encourage a patient to perform daily life activities like brushing his teeth, walking, sitting in the easiest way possible.

2. Hydrotherapy

   In hydrotherapy, a person is put inside water and asked to move his limbs in a specific way. The buoyancy of the water applies the requisite force and pressure on the affected limbs. This therapy helps increase flexibility in the affected arm and increases its mobility. Moreover, it can have a strengthening effect on the limb making it more functional.

   

3. Massage

   Massaging the affected limb increase blood circulation in the affected area and can help the healing process. It may also slightly increase the limb functionality and mobility.

4. Mirror Therapy

   In this therapy, the patient is presented with a mirror image of his unaffected arm and is asked to move his affected arm under the illusion that he is moving his unaffected arm. This stimulates the brain cells and consequently reignites mobility of the affected limb.

In a nutshell, stroke rehabilitation physiotherapy involves the isolated movement of limbs in a way prescribed by trained physical therapists. This movement requires a great deal of coordination and effort from the patient after he has suffered a stroke. Physical therapy aims at slowly easing the pain the patient suffers and increase the functionality of his affected limbs. All this is done to enable the patient to lead a healthy, independent life and be able to perform normal everyday activities despite his physical disability. Physical therapy after stroke helps the patient regain control over his neglected side of the body through various techniques. It has neither side effects nor a guaranteed cure. But physiotherapy is a vital tool in stroke rehabilitation.