Stroke Home Physical Therapy
by Dr. Erin Carr, April 15, 2015
When considering Stroke home physical therapy and rehabilitation it is good to ask:
“What are the results of a Stroke?”
A Stroke occurs in the brain when there is a lack of blood flow to a certain area, often due to a blood clot or hemorrhage. The result, weakness, numbness, and paralysis to one side of the body. If someone has a stroke on the left side of the brain, they experience these symptoms on the right side of their body. They can also often lose their ability to speak. If the Stroke occurs on the right side of the brain, weakness and numbness will then occur on the left side of the body. These individuals will not lose their ability to speak, however, they can be quite impulsive.
Depending on the severity of a Stroke, often times, patients are left with some degree of weakness and numbness for the rest of their life. They will no longer be able to drive, may have difficulty taking care of themselves independently and will need someone to help them get dressed, use the toilet, brush their teeth, cook, etc. This is a life altering event that not only affects the patient, but their partner and family.
Immediately after a Stroke occurs, intensive physical therapy Stroke rehabilitation is recommended. The more consistent the Stroke physical therapy rehabilitation is, the higher the chances of building strength, sensation and function. Post Stroke patients usually get most of their gains in the first 6 months. Research shows, the one year anniversary of a stroke is often the marker for how much function a patient will have long term. This isn’t to say they won’t continue to make gains, but the progress will be slow. Stroke home physical therapy can be of great benefit when it comes to such statistics.
The earlier and longer a patient can experience post Stroke rehabilition either with stroke home physical therapy or in a clinic, the higher their gains may be in physical function, even after the one year anniversary.
Why “Stroke Home Physical Therapy” can be a valueble part of the Stroke rehabilitation healing process?
1. Gentle Exercise in the comforts of your own home.
2. Stroke home physical therapy allows patients to focus on function in your real world environment: rolling in bed, transferring to wheel chair, practice taking steps to the bathroom. Eating breakfast. Make it functional and fun working on real life activities in real life situations in your own home.
3. Eliminate drive time to and from a clinic which only increases fatigue while decreasing productivity.
4. A decrease in overall stress promotes improved healing and function.
5. In home physical therapy creates a team approach with the patient, family and caregivers.
