How Physical Therapy Can Help After a Stroke

By Travis Stoner, PT, DPT, CS, COMT, FAAOMPT

Fusion Rehab and Wellness

. https://fusionpta.com/

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How Physical Therapy Can Help After a Stroke

According to the CDC, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of serious disability for adults. Approximately 800,000 people in the United States alone will have a stroke this year. Up to 76% of patients with strokes will experience some form of movement disorders, including loss of motor control, coordination, strength, and balance with the greatest impairment occurring right after the stroke. Many activities that once required little to no thought can become extremely difficult. Activities such as walking, cooking, cleaning, and self-care can become challenging. However, with time and the proper rehabilitation, there can be improvements.

Patients with strokes can benefit tremendously from therapy. Physical therapy will not reverse the damage from a stroke, but it will help the patient live as independently as possible, by recovering function and compensating for limitations. The main goal is to help the patient safely return to their daily life activities and improve their overall quality of life.

Once discharged from the hospital, it is important to begin outpatient physical therapy to continue making improvements in functional mobility. Research shows that even years after a stroke the brain continues to reorganize itself, and can show improvements in function. Continuous physical therapy outside of the hospital can help guide the central reorganization to regain strength, coordination, balance, and movement control.

Physical therapy is individually tailored to the unique deficits of the patient, which are determined during a comprehensive evaluation. Your physical therapist will design an exercise program to address impairments in balance, gait, bed mobility, and/or transfers.

Physical therapists, who are highly educated in the mechanics involved in functional mobility and trained to break down each task, can help the patient maximize their function. This includes creating individualized plans of care to meet the needs of each patient and their caregivers. The use of stairs, parallel bars, balance equipment, Wii, manual therapy, and dry needling allows therapists to be creative with treatment sessions.

Providing each patient with the most current, innovative, and well researched treatment can help the patient as much as possible. If you or a loved one has been affected by a stroke, please contact a physical therapist who will be happy to help make your day a little easier, and your life a little happier.