Stroke Rehab Importance
The best and quickest way to recover after a stroke is to begin stroke rehab. In stroke rehab, a group of health providers may work with you to help you regain skills you lost after your stroke. This may be done in the hospital environment initially or once you leave the hospital you may choose to visit professionals or continue your rehab at home.
Stroke rehab will focus on helping to restore as much of your independence as possible. It will also assist in adjusting to the post stroke changes of your brain and body. And on a more functional aspect it can help you in your home environment to cope with the changes in your ability and everyday routine after your stroke.
A key component of stroke rehab to help retrain the brain includes frequency or repetition of exercises or therapy. Research has shown that the brain can make new connections and this is a fundamental principal of stroke recovery. We call this ability of the brain to change and adapt ‘neuroplasticity’. Repeated repetition is needed for the brain to change and this is utilized in most stroke rehab programs. Just like learning any new skill, the use of repetition is used to help entrain it into your body.
Cardiovascular exercises is a key component of post stroke rehab. After a stroke it is important for stroke survivors to keep a healthy cardiovascular system to prevent any strokes in the future. At times this may seem difficult because of problems with gait or walking and the fact that most cardiovascular exercises usually use the legs. Activities done in a pool like aqua aerobics or activities that only use the upper body may prove to be beneficial in this aspect.
A team for stroke rehab can consist of the family, loved ones and caregivers. In addition some people may have the help of professionals to assist themselves and caregivers on the road to recovery. The group may consist of physical therapist who focus on the muscles to help with movement and coordination. Occupational therapy will help with everyday tasks such as dressing, bathing and eating. For some individuals a language or speech therapist will assist with communication skills. One often neglected aspect of stroke rehab is the psychological part of recovery, this is best handled by a psychologist or counselor.
There are many different ways and approaches to stroke rehab. Unfortunately due finances or location, not everyone is in a position to learn or have access to the best stroke recovery methods. Recently there have been some great discoveries in the areas of stroke recovery and rehabilitation. And while there is no short cut for hard work and time, there are definitely more efficient ways to go about stroke rehab. An approach that uses the latest techniques in stroke rehab and allows you to tailor them to your needs will result in a faster and more efficient recovery period. It could also push your recovery further than you thought possible.
More expert advice on stroke recovery is available from John Hamilton’s website, which is all about rehab for stroke.