What is a Stroke?

A Stroke is an event that can occur following two main causes:

• Cerebral ischemia
• Hemorrhage

Cerebral ischemia is the process that occurs when there is a lack of oxygen and nutrients in the central nervous system, which are normally carried by the blood. Following an artery or vessel closure, the brain cells, which normally receive blood from the territory pertaining to that arterial branch, suffer permanent damage.  The most common cause of cerebral blood vessel closure is the presence of an embolus. stroke rehabilitation at home

During a cerebral hemorrhage, damage to the nerves occurs by compression, due to the leakage of blood from the vessel that gathers in that area of the brain.
We have conditions in which slight and blurred motor or neuropsychological deficits remain, which might only show only when you are tired or particularly stress. In other cases, on the other hand, a person’s autonomy is totally compromised to an irreversible and serious extent, where motility and consciousness are completely lost. stroke rehabilitation in london

neurological rehabilitation

Aphasia

The most frequent outcome of a stroke is the appearance of hemiplegia or hemiparesis. This is the difficulty or inability to move one side of the body. Both the lower and upper limbs can be involved in a variable way. In addition to motor damage, there can be repercussions on perception, language and cognitive aspects in a more evident way compared to the contralateral hemiparesis.
For example, the sphere of language is a priority pertaining to the left hemisphere which has two specific areas of language within it. Damage to these areas leads to a clinical situation called Aphasia.

It can be of two forms:

• Motor aphasia
• Sensory aphasia

In motor aphasia, the patient’s difficulties lie in the organisation of the movement aimed at producing sounds and words. While in sensory aphasia, the difficulties extend to understanding, structuring the sentence and a relative concept.
Another aspect that may be present is the difficulty in planning, organising and carrying out movement. This is a cognitive condition called Apraxia. Even if all the movements proper to a gesture are there, it becomes extremely complicated to organise them in a functional way.
Among the neuropsychological condition associated with cases of right hemiparesis attention, perception and learning deficits are common. Speech Therapists are specifically trained to treat these conditions through stroke rehabilitation processes that involve language.

Physiotherapy and Stroke Rehabilitation

Physiotherapy after a stroke involves extensive aspects that go far beyond the simple identification of the limitations of joints movement. There are various different approaches to physiotherapy after stroke. These can broadly be divided into approaches that are based on neurophysiological, orthopaedic or motor learning aspects.  Each physiotherapist who deals with stroke a stroke patient will adopt the various approaches in a versatile manner, based on the assessment parameters he identifies.

Stroke physiotherapy is therefore typically customised to fit each individual stroke survivor. Your physiotherapy plan will revolve around specific goals, which you and your therapist will work together to set and work toward. You should ask questions in this phase, especially about your prescribed goals and timetable, in order to make sure you know what to expect from your rehabilitation program.

Normally the physiotherapy starts with the most basic tasks and movements, such as safely transferring moving bed to chair while protecting your limbs if they are impaired. Exercises will then progress, to include tasks such as balance improvement, and will be aimed at helping you relearn basic coordination skills and functional tasks such as walking and grasping objects.

Inpatient And Outpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Programs

Depending on the living situation and type of care you need, you will receive care at one of three types of programs:

Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

Stroke survivors with severe impairments may need to stay in a specialised ward where they will receive 24-hour rehabilitation and medical care. Interdisciplinary inpatient programs are particularly important in stroke rehabilitation, and the intensive and incorporated multidisciplinary  approach needed for these cases works best in an inpatient setting where professionals such as physiotherapists, specialists, speech therapists and occupational therapists are coordinated and organised to provide the level of care needed.

psychological rehabilitation