Around 66 percent of people who have a stroke survive it and most of them will need rehabilitation. The length of time needed will vary from person to person depending on the size and position of the brain damage. For some fortunate individuals stroke rehabilitation will only need a few weeks, for others it may stretch into years.
The twin aims of stroke rehabilitation are
1. To achieve maximum independence
2. You have a good quality of life
Rehabilitation doesn't fix the parts of your brain destroyed by the stroke but encourages the best possible recovery you can get.
Recovery After A Stroke
Post stroke rehabilitation helps you relearn the skills you lost when part of your brain was damaged by your stroke. An example of this is learning to walk again or using your hand to fasten buttons. You may also need to learn new skills to compensate for any disabilities you are left with such as washing and dressing one handed.
All the experts agree the most important part of your rehabilitation is focused repetitive practice! You are learning or re-learning skills and need to practice the same as someone learning a musical instrument or kicking a football. Your mantra is PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.
Your recovery treatment after a stroke begins in hospital as soon as possible with the target being you being able to look after yourself.
What Type Of Rehabilitation Will You Have?
The aim is to match your disabilities with the right rehabilitation activities rather than have a one size fits all approach. Generally the areas causing problems are
1. Paralysis or difficulty with movements
2. Loss of sensation on the affected side or discomfort
3. Problems with speaking or understanding words (known as aphasia)
4. Your memory may not be very good
5. Emotional problems
There are a variety of medical staff involved in stroke rehabilitation. They include specialist stroke doctors who are in overall charge, stroke nurses who care for you day to day on the ward, physiotherapists or physical therapists who work on your muscle movement and pains, occupational therapists who help you relearn daily activities such as washing and dressing and speech therapists (or speech-language pathologists) as they are known in the USA who work with you on your speech, understanding, memory and improving your swallowing if that is a problem.
If you are unlucky enough to suffer a stroke and survive it, you are faced with possibly many months of hard work with the specialists to get you back to as full and independent life as possible. There are no short cuts but keeping at it will produce noticeable results.
The twin aims of stroke rehabilitation are
1. To achieve maximum independence
2. You have a good quality of life
Rehabilitation doesn't fix the parts of your brain destroyed by the stroke but encourages the best possible recovery you can get.
Recovery After A Stroke
Post stroke rehabilitation helps you relearn the skills you lost when part of your brain was damaged by your stroke. An example of this is learning to walk again or using your hand to fasten buttons. You may also need to learn new skills to compensate for any disabilities you are left with such as washing and dressing one handed.
All the experts agree the most important part of your rehabilitation is focused repetitive practice! You are learning or re-learning skills and need to practice the same as someone learning a musical instrument or kicking a football. Your mantra is PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.
Your recovery treatment after a stroke begins in hospital as soon as possible with the target being you being able to look after yourself.
What Type Of Rehabilitation Will You Have?
The aim is to match your disabilities with the right rehabilitation activities rather than have a one size fits all approach. Generally the areas causing problems are
1. Paralysis or difficulty with movements
2. Loss of sensation on the affected side or discomfort
3. Problems with speaking or understanding words (known as aphasia)
4. Your memory may not be very good
5. Emotional problems
There are a variety of medical staff involved in stroke rehabilitation. They include specialist stroke doctors who are in overall charge, stroke nurses who care for you day to day on the ward, physiotherapists or physical therapists who work on your muscle movement and pains, occupational therapists who help you relearn daily activities such as washing and dressing and speech therapists (or speech-language pathologists) as they are known in the USA who work with you on your speech, understanding, memory and improving your swallowing if that is a problem.
If you are unlucky enough to suffer a stroke and survive it, you are faced with possibly many months of hard work with the specialists to get you back to as full and independent life as possible. There are no short cuts but keeping at it will produce noticeable results.
About the Author:
The treatment of strokes is improving all the time. Read more about strokes and recent medical advances in treatment and prevention.
