Stroke Rehabilitation
Have you or a loved one experienced a stroke?
Our physical therapists are here to provide quality stroke rehabilitation throughout the recovery process. We help you regain the use of stroke-impaired limbs, teach strategies to reduce the effect of any remaining deficits, and establish an exercise program to retain newly-learned skills.
How A Stroke Affects the Body
A stroke occurs when the blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off, which deprives the brain cells of oxygen, resulting in cell death. The obstruction of blood flow can be caused by a clot traveling into the arteries that supply the brain or due to a fall or blow to the head.
When brain cells die, the abilities that that area of the brain controls, such as memory, speech, motor control, or coordination, are impaired and can lead to disability.
Common stroke symptoms include:
paralysis, typically on one side of the body.
movement and motor control issues
posture and balance problems
sensory disturbances, such as numbness in limbs
incontinence (loss of bladder control)
memory and language problems
blurred vision and behavioral changes
Stroke Recovery
For those clients who have experienced a stroke, our aim as physical therapists is to help you relearn simple motor skills, including walking, sitting, standing, lying down, and the process of switching from one type of movement to another.
Physical therapy is essential to help a stroke survivor regain strength, coordination, balance and motor control.
Physical Therapy Interventions
Positioning
A stroke can impair an individual’s ability to change position and posture. Positioning the affected limb(s) with appropriate support during recovery can help increase spatial awareness and reduce limb swelling or pain.
Early Mobilization
Stroke recovery patients may suffer from immobility issues. Early in the recovery process, mobilizations include sitting out of bed, transferring from the bed to a chair, standing, and walking.
Balance & Gait Training
Due to reduced limb and trunk motor control, patients can experience impaired balance, limited walking function, and an increased risk of falling. The physical therapist will engage in trunk exercise training and focus on task-specific, walk-oriented leg exercises to improve gait and ability to move.
Upper Limb Function
Patients recovering from stroke may have limited arm function. Physical therapy will focus on repetitive, task-specific activities to strengthen and regain upper limb function. As the patient regains function, he or she can progress toward strength training of the arm.
Aquatic Therapy
At Mangiarelli Rehabilitation, we offer aquatic therapy in our heated water therapy pool. Aquatic therapy can enhance stroke recovery treatment, particularly balance and walking function.
The natural buoyancy of water allows a patient greater mobility as it decreases weight-bearing stress on the joints. When immersed at the waist level, water buoyancy supports 50% of the body’s weight. Water therapy can also help reduce spasticity symptoms in patients who have suffered from a stroke.
Benefits of Physical Therapy After a Stroke
1.
Research has shown that stroke survivors that engage in rehabilitation post-stroke recover faster and more effectively than they would otherwise.
4.
Physical therapy prevents muscle atrophy due to impaired limbs as the therapist helps the patient regain use of the impaired limb through exercises to stimulate the muscles and rebuild the brain-body connection.
2.
Patients gain improved overall strength, mobility, and agility over time through a customized exercise program.
3.
Stroke patients have a better quality of life with improved endurance, coordination, mobility, and physical strength.
5.
Patients are more independent and have an overall improved mood and mindset. They can more easily return to daily life and be less reliant on caregivers.
