Hemiplegia is a debilitating condition that can affect the nerves and muscles of your upper extremities. Upper-extremity hemiplegia involves a total paralysis of your arm, rendering it completely immobile. This condition typically results from a stroke, but can also occur as a result of severe spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or a brain lesion. Although the exact cause of hemiplegia remains unknown, it appears that when the brain is deprived of oxygen during a brain injury or illness, neurons around your body die, which may lead to paralysis of your upper extremities as well as other parts of your body. Rehabilitation for upper-extremity hemiplegia may involve a combination of physical therapy, occupational therapy, surgery, and drug therapy.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can help you regain muscle function and quality of life following upper-extremity hemiplegia. The aim of physical therapy is to improve muscle strength and mobility in your upper extremities. Physical therapy rehabilitation for an upper-extremity hemiplegia may involve resistance training with elastic bands, dumbbells, and weight machines in such a way as to improve muscle control and strength. Resistance training may increase your mind-muscle connection, which is your brain's ability to communicate with your muscles. By improving your mind-muscle connection, you may be able to regain some function and control in your upper extremities.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy for upper-extremity hemiplegia differs from physical therapy by training your body to perform everyday activities. Occupational therapy may help you relearn how to perform simple tasks that require fine movement of your upper body muscles, such as brushing your teeth, combing your hair, or getting dressed. Therefore, occupational therapy is considered functional training, as its goal is to help you return to normal everyday life.
Surgery
Surgery may be required to help treat the effects of upper-extremity hemiplegia, such as contracture. Contracture is a condition that often results from upper-extremity hemiplegia and involves the continuous contraction of a muscle even in the absence of a stimulus. This means that a muscle in your upper body may remain constantly flexed, causing pain and discomfort. Surgical intervention for this condition typically involves cutting ligaments around your affected joints to release pressure from a joint contracture.
Drug Therapy
Certain drugs can be used to treat upper-extremity hemiplegia. Valium and Librium are the two most common drugs prescribed for this condition. These drugs may help control swelling in the brain and spinal cord, which may speed up your body's natural healing process to repair damaged neurons affecting your upper extremities. These drugs may also control some of the side effects associated with stroke or traumatic brain injury, such as seizures.
References
- "Introduction To Physical Therapy"; Michael A. Pagliarulo; 2011
- Cerebral Palsy Symptoms; Hemiplegia (Non-Operative Treatment)
