S. M. A. R. T. Patient Education Pages
Stroke
Stroke is a major cause of disability for adults and physiotherapists are an essential part of the stroke patient's healthcare team. In fact, physicians refer stroke patients to physiotherapists as soon as they are medically stable, usually while still in the hospital, often within 48 hours of their stroke.
HOW PHYSIOTHERAPY HELPS
The particular skills and training of physiotherapists directly address some of the most common diabilities of stroke patients: loss of movement, loss of muscle tone and control, loss of sensation, loss of balance, and difficulty in sitting, standing and walking.
Our aim is to improve the health, functioning, independence and wellbeing of stroke patients. After an in-depth medical history and a thorough physical assessment, we design a personal plan of specifically trageted exercises to retrain affected body parts.
We are specifically trained to help with gait (walking) retraining and sensory retraining for those areas with sensory deficits after stroke.We draw upon a wide variety of therapeutic modalities to improve:
• mobility
• strength
• core (trunk) stability
• balance and
• stamina and endurance
We take the time to educate our patients so they understand what has happened, what can be done about it now and what they can do to help themselves.
While some lucky patients recover from a stroke within days, most patients recover gradually. Most improvement in function occurs within the first three months after a stroke, but improvement can continue for as long as a year after the event. Although inpatient physiotherapy usually starts the rehabilitative process, treatment in the outpatient department or in private clinics complete the patient’s restoration to optimal function and independence.
KNOW THE SIGNS OF STROKE
It is important to learn the signs of stroke. It is essential to get immediate treatment if you have any suspicion at all that your might be experiencing a stroke. Timely treatment of stroke can significantly diminsh the longterm effects.
Some signs that you might be experiencing a stroke are:
- Sudden weakness, numbness or tingling in your face, arm or leg
- Sudden trouble speaking or understanding someone else’s speech
- Sudden vision disturbances, like loss of sight (especially in one eye), double vison or fuzzy vision
- Sudden dizziness, trouble walking or loss of balance, especially if you experience any of the other signs
- Sudden unusual and severe headache with no known cause
STROKE PREVENTION
Although immediate professional treatment substantially improves the outcome for stroke patients, the best medicine -- as always -- is prevention.
Some primary risk factors for stroke are:
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
You can take action to reduce your risk of having a stroke. By not smoking you reduce your risk of stroke and numerous other diseases. With the advice and care of your physician, you can treat the other conditions listed above and make lifestyle changes that will benefit your health and reduce your risk of stroke.
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