Exercises for stroke victims aim to rehabilitate the affected areas and increase their ability to function at a somewhat normal level again. Each stroke victim will have a personalized exercise plan that includes elements of each of the following types.
Passive Range of Motion
Passive range of motion exercises are those where a therapist helps the stroke victim move a limb because he is unable to do it on his own. These movements are repeated to maintain blood flow and keep tendons and muscles flexible. They keep these areas in working order but don't build muscle or make them stronger. Passive ROM exercises for stroke victims are used on the shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, hips, knees, ankles, feet and toes. The therapist starts at the head and works down the body holding and gently turning, bending or raising one body part at a time.
Active Range of Motion
Active ROM exercises are done by the stroke victim himself without assistance from a therapist. These exercises keep joints flexible and keep blood flowing, which may help prevent blood clots. They build up or keep muscles strong. Active ROM exercises help the heart pump easier and stronger and keep breathing quicker and deeper, which helps prevent infections. Aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, cycling or wheeling use large muscle groups and help increase cardiovascular performance and the ability to do daily tasks. Strength training exercises include circuit training, all types of weight training and isometric exercises to increase muscle strength. Flexibility exercises such as stretching help prevent tightening.
Walking
Walking exercises for stroke victims start with the patient standing between parallel bars, then learning to shift weight from one leg to the other, then front to back. Next, the patient takes a few steps forward with hands still on the bars. After this, the stroke victim takes a few steps outside the bars using a cane or walker if necessary. Sometimes the therapist will use a wide belt around the patient's waist to help hold or adjust balance.
Speech
Speech problems are common after a stroke, with approximately one-third of stroke victims experiencing a communication difficulty, according to The Stroke Association of the UK. Speech exercises help a patient relearn language either in speaking or understanding what is said or coming up with new ways to communicate. Examples of speech exercises include repeating what the therapist says, drills to follow directions, or reading and writing drills. For more severely affected stroke victims, symbol boards or sign language exercises are used.
Occupational
Stroke victims can have problems with daily tasks. Occupational exercises help them develop new ways of doing tasks or doing them with an assisting device. Many times, these exercises involve breaking tasks down into parts, then repetitively practicing each part separately, then putting them all together. The exercises also help compensate for some of the deficiencies experienced after a stroke to change the environment to fit the stroke victim.
