Your brain stem controls many of the autonomic functions of your body, including breathing, blood pressure and digestion. It also controls your sense of balance, known as vestibular function. Injury to the brain stem may cause lack of balance and lack of coordination in movement and mobility. Physical therapy may help reduce damage caused by a cerebrovascular accident.
Description
A cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is commonly known as a stroke. The exact location and severity of the CVA will determine how your body is affected, and the type and degree of physical therapy you may require for restoration of optimal function. A CVA is commonly caused by lack of, or interruption of, blood flow to the brainstem or other part of the brain. The severity and duration of the lack of blood flow directly affects the severity of resulting damage and symptoms. Rehabilitation begun within 24 to 48 hours of a CVA event gives most benefit to the stroke patient, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Dysphagia
Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty in swallowing caused by damage to the brain stem. Some stroke victims experience such difficulty, and physical and occupational therapy may help enhance retraining of the tongue and throat muscles to help reduce risk of choking and to enhance eating function. Sucking exercises such as sucking on a straw or object strengthens mouth, tongue and throat muscles. Opening and closing, pursing and pressing the lips together may also increase swallowing function.
Balance
Improving sense of balance following a CVA attack to the brain stem, your physical therapist may recommend and guide you in lying down, sitting and standing stretching exercises. Coordinating motor movement while adjusting to various positions may help increase stability and sense of balance that originates in the brain stem. Some therapists use equipment that determines a person's sensory, muscle and nerve adaption and motor movements to help in balancing. Therapists may also use a gait belt and walk with stroke patients for short distances to aid in retraining lower limb gait coordination and strength, combined with gradually increased range of motion and joint function.
Strengthening
Strengthening exercises help improve muscle function and response to nerve stimulus from the brain stem. Activity may help develop new neural pathways that bypass the area of the brain damaged by the stroke. Gentle weight-bearing exercises using resistance bands or tubes, and graduating to low-weight dumbbells also helps increase coordination and restoration of muscle tone and mobility.
