Stroke rehabilitation may include muscle relearning technique in situations where a stroke has caused reduced movement or partial paralysis. The success of rehabilitation following a stroke has many variables, such as the cause and severity and location of the stroke, the patient's health and age, the type of disabilities caused by the stroke and patient follow-up support.
Symptoms
There are a number of signs and symptoms that may indicate a person is having a stroke. These include sudden dizziness, vertigo or loss of balance, a sudden, sharp headache, feelings of confusion, slurring of words, inability to explain how you are feeling, numbness or paralysis on one side of your body, blurred vision or seeing double, vomiting or nausea. If you or someone else is experiencing these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation should begin as soon as possible after a stroke. There are a number of different therapy aspects including regaining motor skills by means of strengthening and coordinating exercises, speech therapy, mobility training with walking aids, range of motion therapy to help reduce spasticity, and psychological therapy. Another rehabilitation technique is the use of electrical stimulation to help with relearning to use weakened muscles.
Therapy Time Frame
Rehabilitation therapy following a stroke will begin as soon as the patient is stabilized; this is usually within 48 hours after the stroke. Initial rehabilitation involves independent movement in which the patient will be asked to change position while in bed and perform passive motion exercises with disabled limbs. Further rehabilitation including muscle relearning will progress gradually. The time frame generally depends on the extent of the patient's impairments. For some stroke survivors, rehabilitation may be an ongoing process that could last for several months or years after the stroke.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation can help to strengthen the muscles and increase the flow of blood to tissues. Because it causes the muscles to contract, it may provide a form of passive stretching over a long period, helping to strengthen the muscle and increase the range of movement. Electrical stimulation also can help to stimulate spastic muscles. This has a relaxing and strengthening effect. Another important application of electrical stimulation is for the re-education of muscle movement.
Muscle Training
When mild electrical stimulation is applied to muscle tissue, it produces a range of sensations, including direct sensations from the muscle, joints and tendons, stimulation of motor neurons and neural activity in the brain's cortex. Over time, this form of therapy may help a patient not only strengthen the muscle, but also relearn how to move it.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Stroke Symptoms; Mayo Clinic Staff
- MayoClinic.com; Stroke Rehabilitation: What To Expect As You Recover; Mayo Clinic Staff
- "Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development"; Electroacupuncture May Help Motor Recovery In Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Pilot Study; Wen Lui et al.; 2008
- The Ohio State University Medical Center: Rehabilitation For Stroke
