Physiotherapy after stroke improves quality of life and recovers lost movements. The main objective is to restore motor capacity and make the patient capable of carrying out activities of daily living alone, without needing a caregiver.
Physiotherapy sessions should begin as soon as possible, while still in the hospital and should preferably be carried out every day, as the faster the patient is stimulated, the faster their recovery will be.
Examples of rehabilitation exercises after stroke
Some examples of physical therapy exercises that can be used after a stroke to regain strength and mobility in the arms and legs include:
- Open and close the arms, in front of the body, which may vary in: Opening only one arm at a time and then both at the same time;
- Walk in a straight line, then alternating between toes and heels;
- Use the exercise bike for 15 minutes, then you can vary the resistance and distance achieved;
- Walk on the treadmill for around 10 minutes with the help of the therapist.
These exercises can be done continuously for more than 1 minute each. In addition to these exercises, it is important to stretch all muscles to improve range of motion and perform breathing exercises to avoid the accumulation of secretions that can lead to pneumonia, for example.
Exercises with balls, resistance, mirrors, weights, trampolines, ramps, elastic bands and everything else necessary to improve the patient’s physical and mental capacity can also be used. However, you can also use TENS, ultrasound and hot water or ice packs, as necessary.
Results of physical therapy after stroke
Physiotherapy can achieve many benefits, such as:
- Improve the appearance of the face, making it more symmetrical;
- Increase movement of arms and legs;
- Make walking easier, and
- Make the individual more independent in their daily activities, such as combing their hair, cooking and dressing, for example.
Physiotherapy should be performed daily, or at least 3 times a week.
Despite the intense work of physiotherapy, some patients may not show much improvement, as the exercises must be done well and this also depends on the patient’s wishes. As one of the sequelae of stroke is depression, these patients may have greater difficulty attending sessions and feel discouraged, not performing the exercises correctly, which makes recovery difficult.
Therefore, it is necessary for a patient who has suffered a stroke to be monitored by a multidisciplinary team made up of a doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, speech therapist and psychologist.
How long to do
Physiotherapy can start the day after the stroke, encouraging the person to stay out of the hospital bed, with around 3 to 6 months of individualized neurological physiotherapy treatment being recommended. Sessions last around 1 hour, with exercises performed with the help of the therapist, or alone, depending on the person’s ability.
In addition to the exercises performed in the office, you may need to perform exercises and stretches at home for daily muscle stimulation. Have the patient play video games that exercise the entire body, such as Wii and X-box, for example, to maintain muscle stimulation at home.
It is important that physiotherapeutic treatment is carried out continuously and that the individual has a lot of stimulation to prevent muscle contractures from increasing and the range of movement becoming increasingly smaller, leaving the individual bedridden and totally dependent on the care of others.
