Did you know that physio's don't just help with aches and pains in the body from injury?
Physio's can help with a number of things - including Neurological issues. This is what we will be exploring in the next series of blogs, thanks to some great work by our physio Sarah! She has a keen interest in treating and helping people get improvements in function and quality of life - not just from injury, but also in those that have neurological conditions. She has written a number of short information pieces - the first of which is on Stroke and rehabilitation following a Stroke. Check it out below!
Stroke Rehabilitation
Every stroke can present uniquely in individuals. When someone suffers a stroke, it can affect how their body moves, how strong their muscles are, and how well they can participate in their everyday life from activities like walking and driving, to activities like work or sport. Stroke rehabilitation with a physiotherapist helps people recover and regain as much movement and independence as possible. A physiotherapist will work with the individual to understand what they're struggling with - whether it's walking, using an arm, or keeping their balance - and create a person-specific rehabilitation plan to help them improve in those areas. Rehabilitation can include:
- Exercises to improve strength, coordination and flexibility that are in line with a person's goals
- Balance and walking re-training to help reduce risk of falls
- Activity/movement re-training to help practice and re-learn daily movements like reaching or using stairs
- Hands on techniques to reduce stiffness or pain
The main goal is to support those who have suffered from a stroke, get back to things that are important to them. Recovery after a stroke can take time, but with regular therapy and support, many see a meaningful and tangible improvement in their function and quality of life. A high-quality research trial comparing exercise groups with usual care demonstrated that participants who engaged in therapeutic exercise for 12 weeks saw faster improvements in social function, arm strength, emotional wellbeing and physical abilities compared to those receiving standard care. These gains were significant immediately post-treatment but declined at 6 months if exercise was not continued. “Exercise can lead to moderate beneficial effects on health-related quality of life and should be considered an integral part of stroke rehabilitation.”
References:
Ali A, Tabassum D, Baig SS, Moyle B, Redgrave J, Nichols S, McGregor G, Evans K, Totton N, Cooper C, Majid A. Effect of Exercise Interventions on Health-Related Quality of Life After Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Stroke. 2021 Jul;52(7):2445-2455. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.032979.
Studenski S, Duncan PW, Perera S, Reker D, Lai SM, Richards L. Daily functioning and quality of life in a randomized controlled trial of therapeutic exercise for subacute stroke survivors. Stroke. 2005 Aug;36(8):1764-70. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000174192.87887.70. Epub 2005 Jul 21. PMID: 16040590.