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An Occupational Therapist's Therapeutic Exercises for Stroke Patients

According to information from the Mayo Clinic, a stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is interrupted. The extent and type of damage is dependent on what part and how much of the brain is adversely affected. The success rate of stroke treatment depends on how quickly it is administered after the stroke begins. Lasting effects from a stroke can include impairment of mobility, memory, motor skills and any number of other neurological functions. Proper occupational therapy for the stroke patient is the key to improving quality of life as much as possible following a stroke.

  1. Range of Motion Training

    • Range of motion training involves the application of both passive (performed by the therapist on the patient) and active (performed by the patient himself) exercises to restore full mobility to the affected areas.

      Range of motion training includes stretching exercises. For example, a patient who has impaired range of motion in the shoulder region could perform the following stretch: interlace the fingers in front of the body with arms straight, bringing the hands as high above the head as possible without discomfort in the shoulder joint. Hold the peak position for five to ten seconds then relax, repeating two or three times and striving to increase the effective range of motion with each repetition.

    Coordination Training

    • Stroke victims often suffer from coordination impairment, usually in the facial region on one side of the body. Coordination training exercises can help to overcome this disability, restoring proper muscle control to the area. A sample muscle control activity is to sit in front of a mirror and practice alternating between smiling and frowning, holding each pose for five to ten seconds. Other exercises include sticking out the tongue and holding it there for five seconds, attempting to touch the tongue to the roof of the mouth, and actively shifting the jawbone back and forth in a controlled fashion.

    Cardiovascular Exercise

    • A final type of exercise for stroke patients during rehabilitation is cardiovascular exercise, such as brisk walking on a treadmill. According to the American Heart Association, regular cardiovascular exercise following a stroke can help to improve prognosis of recovery along with speeding the process up significantly. If the patient is physically able, 30 minutes per day of walking performed four or five days per week will go a long way toward stroke rehabilitation.

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