Stroke Rehabilitation

Physical Therapy in Lake Charles for Stroke Rehabilitation

Hey there! Welcome to FYZICAL's guide to stroke rehabilitation. We'll teach you three things here:

What a stroke is
Lifestyle factors that can lead to a stroke
What rehabilitation after a stroke looks like

Let's get right into it!

What is a stroke?

A stroke happens when the blood flow to the brain is either blocked (ischemic) or there is a bleed in the blood vessels (hemorrhagic).

The lack of oxygen prevents the brain from getting the nutrients it needs to function and damages brain cells. Damaged cells alters the physical/mental functions related to the area of the brain affected.

The bigger the bleed or blockage in the blood vessel & the longer that the stroke goes without treatment are two main factors that determine the severity of a stroke. Treating a stroke as early as possible can be the difference between saving or losing a life.

How does a stroke affect the brain?

The brain is split into two parts when it comes to functionality. One side of the brain controls movement & the opposite side controls sensations. This means that if you have a stroke on the left side of the brain, the right side of the body will be affected. If the stroke is on the right side of the brain, the left side of the body will be affected.

Classic signs of a stroke in progress include:

sudden slurred or incoherent speech
sudden numbness or tingling in the face, arm or leg, or one side of the body
inability to raise one arm in comparison to the other arm
inability to smile on one side
sudden slouching to one side while sitting
drooping eye or mouth on one side
sudden loss of mental capacity
sudden severe headache
sudden blurred or disturbed vision of one or both eyes
sudden decrease or loss of consciousness
sudden balance problems in sitting or walking

Can your lifestyle lead to a stroke?

The answer to that question is yes. However, living a lifestyle that proactively works against any of the conditions below will help your body function at its greatest capacity.

Some things to look for when considering factors that can lead to a stroke area:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Smoking
Heart and blood vessel diseases
Sleep apnea, kidney disease, or bleeding disorders
Blood thinner medicines
Family history of strokes
Stress and anxiety, which can increase blood pressure
sudden blurred or disturbed vision of one or both eyes
Being overweight

Educate yourself

Knowing what a stroke looks like, and factors that lead to a stroke can help you or a loved one avoid such a life-altering event.

It’s as simple as living a healthy lifestyle with a mindful diet low in processed foods and fats, participating in regular exercise, modifying your stress and avoiding or quitting smoking can significantly reduce your risk of having a stroke.

Getting back into action

The goal of rehabilitation after a stroke is to teach you to become as independent as possible. Physical Therapy reteaches the brain to do the functions that were affected by the stroke. What does that look like? Exercises that mimic functions like grabbing objects off a shelf, picking up something off of the ground, or getting up out of a seat are a few examples.

Just like eating your Wheaties is the most important part of every morning, starting rehab as early as possible is the key to recovery. Repetition and vigorous practice are crucial elements in stroke recovery. Depending on what your goals and current circumstances are, 45 minutes of therapy at least two to five times a week are recommended.

Too late? Never.

Although early treatment is highly recommended, physical therapy is always an option. At FYZICAL, patients have come in years after a stroke looking for a better quality of life.

What would physical therapy look like?

Each stroke presentation is unique. FYZICAL’s therapists treat a patient’s symptoms, not their diagnosis.

Come on in for a visit! After an initial evaluation, your physical therapist will determine an appropriate plan of care and set goals focused on returning to your daily activities. FYZICAL’s motive is about helping you Love Your Life, whatever that looks like to you.

Some concepts our therapists would consider in treatment are:

Transfers: Transferring refers to moving from one surface to another. Because getting in and out of bed, on and off a chair, on and off the toilet, in and out of the shower/bath and in and out of a car are all important tasks for daily living, your therapy will focus on gaining the needed strength and balance to master these tasks as soon as possible.
Strength and Range of Motion: The goal of strengthening is to work towards enough strength and control for you to use your affected side as much as you can for activities of daily living, even if it is not as functional as it was prior to your stroke. Your Physical Therapist will assess the movement of your affected side and work to gain as much motion and strength as possible in any active muscles.
Gait: Many patients who have had strokes but are able to walk will require a cane or walker which assists with their balance when on their feet. Your Physical Therapist will assess your skills and determine if and when working on the skill of walking is appropriate.

Think of rehabilitation just like how we would learn any new skill, such as a new tennis serve or writing a new language; we would practice repeatedly and regularly the actual skills that are involved in the new task until we can put the skills together into the desired task.

Getting everyone involved

A stroke affects the whole person; depending on the severity, it can physically affect both your upper and lower limbs, your cognition, vision, speech, and emotional and mental health. As such, it is important to work with a full multidisciplinary team, in order, to best treat and manage all affected aspects. Your team may include your doctor, physical therapist, speech pathologist, an occupational therapist, dietician, psychologist, social worker, and other health care providers. Together this team of professionals can address your deficits as a whole and work together to provide you with the most effective treatment to maximize your overall abilities.

Wrapping it all up!

A stroke is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate action, in order to, achieve the best eventual outcomes. Early medical intervention, as well as consistent and ongoing rehabilitation will positively affect your long-term capabilities. Physical Therapy services at FYZICAL can assist you to recover from your stroke and regain your maximum potential.

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation now!