How to Regain Balance After a Stroke

Every year, nearly 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke--when blood flow to the brain is obstructed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Brain cells die as a result of the obstruction, which is caused by either a blood clot or a burst blood vessel. Stroke survivors can suffer a wide range of complications, including a loss of balance. In many cases, however, balance can be restored.

Instructions

• 1

  Exercise. Starting an exercise routine following a stroke can improve your balance and should be started as soon as possible after the stroke, according to Toronto Rehab. Ask your doctor before beginning any exercise program, and ask your rehabilitation therapist for balance-specific exercises. One simple example: Sitting in a chair and standing up.

• 2

  Consider braces. According to a study conducted by Dr. Ruth Kent of the University of Leeds, using a splint or a brace following a stroke can help stroke survivors regain long-term balance and mobility.

• 3

  Use a wobble board. A wobble board is a disk with a hemisphere located on the bottom center. The objective is to stand on the disc and try to keep it horizontal (i.e. without the edges touching the floor). A wobble board can help stroke survivors regain balance and is available at most stores that sell exercise equipment.

• 4

  Learn implicit-learning techniques. Implicit learning involves the learning of information without the ability to describe the knowledge of what is learned (i.e. gaining knowledge through exposure, such as riding a bicycle). An example of implicit learning includes error-less learning. Error-less learning does not involve telling a person what he is doing wrong or right. Rather, the patient simply learns while doing something that gradually becomes more difficult. (An example: standing up and reaching for an object that is placed farther and farther away each time). According to a study published in the Journal of Physical Therapy, implicit learning, particularly the error-less learning technique, was shown to be more effective in improving the balance of stroke survivors than explicit learning techniques.