How to Use Physiotherapy to Rehabilitate a Stroke Victim

Physiotherapy is a type of long-term therapy used to help patients regain functional ability after a serious medical injury, such as a stroke. This can include anything from regaining strength control in hands and legs to learning how to walk again.

Instructions

Know the Benefits of Physiotherapy

• 1

  Use physiotherapy as a way to regain control of the body. This is not so much about learning specific things again as it is about gaining control over the patient's own body. The therapist will determine how that will be done depending on the circumstances and the particular needs of each person.

• 2

  Make the patient feel in control. To rehabilitate a stroke survivor, it's important to make him feel like he's not completely dependent on others around him for the most basic of tasks. A patient who learns to walk and stand again on his own has a big advantage over patients who need help to get out of bed.

• 3

  Keep in mind that the patient will require around-the-clock care. This means that somebody from the family will be engaged in helping the patient perform the exercises that the therapist decides are appropriate. If this is too big of a burden on the family, it's important to consider hiring a nurse or helper.

• 4

  Use alternative and complimentary physical therapies such as reflexology massage, hot or cold applications and other procedures that loosen stiff muscles and help regain strength. This can speed up any muscle and motor function improvement greatly in combination with other therapies.

• 5

  Instruct the therapist to use stretching and endurance exercises, along with repetitive strength tasks that will retrain the muscle to perform appropriately.