Stroke Rehab Techniques

Suffering from a stroke can create long-term disabilities in motor, speech and cognitive functions. Being able to regain as much of these functions as possible can be the difference between living with assistance or being able to regain independence with unassisted daily activities. Various techniques are used for physical, speech and cognitive rehabilitation.

Physical Rehabilitation

• Stroke victims often have at least one extremity with loss of function. Often, this may be an entire side of the body. According to the American Heart Association, stroke victims are at higher risk of recurrent strokes and heart attacks. As a result it is important to regain as many physical skills as possible, not only to improve the quality of life but to prolong it.

  Among the first rehabilitative steps are an ergometer for your hands and a stationary cycle for your legs. The rotation increases a range of motion with resistance added as needed to build strength. Other techniques include using rubber balls to squeeze and regain hand and finger strength. If you have suffered leg problems, you will undergo gait therapy to retrain your legs to balance and walk either assisted or unassisted. As you improve, walking and treadmill programs may be implemented.

  When physical improvement has leveled off, a stroke victim may work with an occupational therapist to be able to participate in as many unassisted activities as possible.

Speech Rehabilitation

• A speech therapist tailors the therapy plan for each patient. For severe cases, you may start with simply trying to repeat a therapist's words, very similar to a child learning to speak. Part of speech therapy will include writing and comprehension techniques that include hearing or reading a selection and interpreting it. Conversational therapies help you regain the ability to not only understand conversation being spoken to you, but to be understood. Many patients lose specific grammar function, such as not using pronouns or verbs. Like an actor rehearsing, many of the techniques start with coaching and rehearsal and then move into recognizing cues. A symbol board may also be utilized to help patients reconnect words to pictures.

Cognitive Rehabilitation

• Some stroke survivors develop cognitive impairments that prevent them from creating tactical plans to solve problems or complete tasks. Others may not be able to respond to sensory stimuli on the side of the body affected by the stroke. These impairments may also lead to poor self-image and depression, necessitating treatment by a psychological therapist. Three-dimensional puzzles help retrain the brain in creating basic steps to simple things.