Physiotherapy After Stroke
What is stroke?
A stroke occurs when the normal blood flow to the brain is suddenly interrupted or blocked. Usually, it is due to bleeding or haemorrhage from a blood vessel, or a clot in a blood vessel. This interruption of the blood supply to part of the brain can damage or destroy brain cells which will affect body functions. In Malaysia, there are 52,000 stroke patients every year.
Common issues after stroke
The result of a stroke is loss of function in the affected part of the brain. For example:
– Weakness of the arm or leg on one side
– Balance or coordination problems
– Change in sensations (e.g. pain, numbness, or burning and tingling)
– Decreased ability to walk
– Decreased ability to complete usual tasks of daily living
– Loss of flexibility (joint stiffness)
– Speech problems
– Changes in the ability to swallow and eat
– Changes in vision or perception
– Changes in memory, thinking or judgment
– Emotional changes
How can physiotherapy help stroke patients?
Physiotherapy plays an important role in stroke rehabilitation. After a detailed assessment, the physiotherapist will plan rehabilitation programme that meet your needs. The goal is to help patients become as independent as possible in everyday tasks such as standing, walking and using their weak hand.
– Improves balance
– Reduces risk of falls
– Improves energy and mood
– Improves flexibility
– Improves muscle control & strength
Physiotherapy treatments
There are many different ways in which a physiotherapist can help patients recover after a stroke:
– Exercise
– Strengthening weak muscles
– Gait training
– Working to increase your balance and proprioception
– Manual Therapy
– Massage and manipulate muscles and joints to reduce pain and improve blood circulation.
– Education
– Educate patients to perform daily activities in a safer and more advantageous way
– Assistive device training (using aids/splints)
– Transfer training (e.g. from lying to sitting, from sitting to standing)
References:
- https://www.csp.org.uk/conditions/stroke
- https://www.stroke.org.uk/sites/default/files/physiotherapy_after_stroke.pdf
中风后的物理治疗
什么是中风?
当大脑的某一部分血液供应中断,就会出现中风。中风一般是因为脑血管突然破裂或阻塞所致,造成部分脑部失去供应氧气及养分的血液流通,导致受影响的脑细胞丧失其所控制的功能。在马来西亚一年会有大约52000名中风患者。
中风后常见的问题
中风会导致受影响的脑部区域所控制的功能丧失, 例如:
– 单侧手臂或腿无力
– 平衡或协调问题
– 感觉变化(例如:疼痛、麻木或烧灼感还有刺痛感)
– 行走能力受影响
– 日常生活功能下降
– 柔软度丧失(肌肉或关节僵硬)
– 言语障碍
– 吞咽或饮食困难
– 视力或知觉障碍
– 记忆力,思考能力或者判断力受影响
– 情绪不稳定
物理治疗如何帮助中风病人?
物理治疗在中风复健中扮演了很重要的角色。 经过了仔细的评估后,物理治疗师会根据你的需求来设计出合适的复健治疗计划。目的是为了协助你能够独立地完成日常生活的事务,例如站,走,使用患侧的手。
– 改善平衡
– 减低跌倒的风险
– 改善精力和情绪
– 改善柔软度
– 改善肌肉控制以及肌力
物理治疗
物理治疗师能够透过很多种方法帮助你从中风后恢复
– 运动
– 强化肌力
– 步态训练
– 平衡以及本体感觉训练
– 徒手治疗
– 按摩肌肉以及松动关节以减少疼痛和改善血液循环
– 卫教
– 教导病人以较安全及较有利的方式去执行日常活动
– 教导病人使用辅具或副木
– 转移训练(例如从躺到坐, 从坐到站)
参考资料