After a stroke, patients suffer from a variety of after-effects and physical impairments
Symptoms vary widely depending on the location of brain damage, including autonomic nervous system disorders such as incontinence and constipation, movement disorders such as muscle atrophy, and cognitive disorders such as dementia and loss of consciousness
Stroke carries the risk of causing many disabilities, so it is important to think about how to mitigate these disabilities after they occur (of course, preventing strokes from occurring is also important)
Therefore, what is important is what kind of rehabilitation to start after the onset of the disease and when
When you start will have a big impact on your chances of recovery from any aftereffects
In other words, appropriate rehabilitation at the appropriate time is the quickest way to recover from the aftereffects of the injury
In this article, we will introduce the rehabilitation required from the acute phase immediately after a stroke to the recovery phase
I hope this information will be helpful for you regarding rehabilitation after a stroke
table of contents
Important points in stroke rehabilitation
Start from the day the symptoms appear
The important thing in stroke rehabilitation is to start as soon as possible, and at the latest within three days
Early rehabilitation does not require any special equipment and can be done without the assistance of a specialist
For example, activities such as raising your arms, stretching your legs, and getting up and sitting up in bed are most effective during this period
Being able to do this will greatly improve your chances of recovery
Do self-movement exercises
During rehabilitation, it is very important to move your body yourself rather than relying on others to do so
Of course, there are situations where passive exercise is effective, but exercise that involves moving the body independently is an important point in rehabilitation
Do not weaken the healthy side
There is a common misconception about stroke rehabilitation, but it is important not only to move the affected area, but also to move the unaffected side (healthy side)
For patients with paralysis, it is important to avoid weakening the unaffected side
Being able to use the healthy side allows you to perform activities such as transferring to a wheelchair or to the toilet, and allows you to carry out daily activities even if the paralyzed side does not recover
It is important not to become so preoccupied with the paralyzed side that you neglect rehabilitation on the healthy side
Understanding the treatment process
The rehabilitation process can be divided into the following stages:
①Acute phase
② Recovery period
③Life period
Acute rehabilitation
As mentioned above, it is important to start stroke rehabilitation as soon as possible
Immediately after the onset of the disease, both the patient and their family may be extremely shaken and may not be able to focus on rehabilitation
When you finally escape from the brink of death, you will feel a sense of relief
"You'd better rest for a while."
I'm sure there are many people who feel that way
Of course, there is also the worry of recurrence
Stroke is a disease with a high possibility of recurrence, but it is said that the risk of recurrence does not change even if you undergo rehabilitation
Relapse can occur regardless of rehabilitation
Rehabilitation during the recovery period
After several weeks of treatment and rehabilitation in an acute care hospital, you will enter a period of recovery
You will also be transferred to a hospital or ward that specializes in rehabilitation, called a rehabilitation hospital or recovery ward
This period of rehabilitation is crucial as it determines how well you will recover and what kind of life you will be able to lead
There are three important rehabilitation steps during this time:
- Stand-up and sit-down training
- Stair climbing training
- Walking training with a cane
The main focus is rehabilitation as a foundation for daily life
How hard you work on your rehabilitation during this period will determine how well you recover later
Those who take these rehabilitation measures seriously may see visible signs of recovery
It is important to set goals together with the specialist staff and work on rehabilitation in a planned manner
Rehabilitation during the living stage
At this time, discharge from hospital is imminent
It is important to carry out rehabilitation with the patient's life at home in mind, considering what kind of life they would like to lead after being discharged from hospital and what difficulties they may have
There are two important things to remember during this time
- To be able to walk
- Practice movements using only the healthy hand
Once you are discharged from the hospital, you will need to perform various activities of daily living
During this period of rehabilitation, it is important to learn to deal with the paralyzed side well
The paralyzed side recovers smoothly for about one month after onset, and improvement is seen by about three months
However, recovery becomes more difficult after that, and complete recovery can be difficult
Therefore, during this period it is important to be conscious of movements using the healthy side
Rather than getting frustrated by having to make difficult movements on the paralyzed side, being able to move easily using the healthy side will help you feel more positive and allow you to live your life in harmony with your body
If you are suffering from post-stroke symptoms, consult a specialist
It is recommended that rehabilitation begin as soon as possible after a stroke
If rehabilitation can be started in the acute phase (several months after onset), it can be expected to be highly effective. However, it is said that functional recovery is difficult even if rehabilitation is started in the chronic phase
On the other hand, advances have been made in "regenerative medicine" technology, which utilizes the patient's own stem cells to provide treatment while reducing the burden on the body, making it a recommended treatment for those suffering from post-stroke symptoms, whether in the acute or chronic phase
If rehabilitation and regenerative medicine can be combined, we can expect significant therapeutic effects
Omotesando Helene Clinic specializes in regenerative medicine that does not put a burden on the body, and has treated over 8,000 cases both domestically and internationally. It has also received the GCR (Global Clinic Rating) certification, which proves that it exceeds international standards
"I'm curious, but I can't decide if prevention is really necessary now." You may be at risk of wandering life and death without realizing it, so Please feel free to contact us.
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[Regenerative Medicine Outpatient] 03-3400-2277
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[References]
Okaniwa Yutaka (2020) "Year Note 2021 Internal Medicine and Surgery" Medic Media
Supervision: Dr. Yasushi Tsuda