What is stroke rehabilitation?
Stroke rehabilitation is the combined efforts of various medical and therapy departments coming together to alleviate a problem which would otherwise leave the stroke patient frustrated and incapacitated.
Durig my 20 plus years as a physiotherapy/rehab assistant, I have had the opportunity to work with many stroke patients in hospital. Most patients are in-patients although we have had the occasion to treat out-patients who have residual issues stemming from their original cerebral vascular accident commonly referred to as "a stroke".
Stroke rehabilitation is the process of medically, emotionally and physically surviving the affect of a stroke. Rehabilitation of any kind requires dedication and hard work from the person being rehabilitated. Stroke rehabilitation is difficult and a lengthy process.
The process begins as soon as the patient enters the hospital and is diagnosed with a stroke. The physicians and nursing staff of the emergency department start the rehabilitation with medical treatment to stabilize the patient. The radiology department will perform a CAT scan to aid the physician in his/her diagnosis. The patient will then be sent to the ward for further care.
Once the patient is settled on the ward, the patient's physician will order the rehabilitation team to start the rehabilitation process. A stroke patient's rehabilitation team will usually consist of:
*Physical therapist
*Occupational therapist
*Speech therapist
*Recreational therapy.
Usually the recreational therapy is held until the patient is able to do some things for themselves.
The physical therapy team will assist the patient in gross motor skills i.e. sitting, walking, lifting, reaching, planning skills and pushing a wheelchair. They also help the stroke patient with a general strengthening exercise program. Physical therapy will also aid the patient in the acknowledgement and use of the effected side. This is because some stroke patient's do not realize the effected side is there. A patient's balance is addressed by the therapists to enable safe sitting and walking. Pain modalities are used as necessary.
The occupational therapist will assist the patient with fine motor control i.e. bathing, dressing, eating, thought organization, writing skills and toileting. They will help with all the activities of daily living. Occupational therapists often perform a mini mental test on the patient to see where the patient is starting from after the stroke. They will also address the patient's balance and any special equipment which the patient may need to aid in their recovery.
The speech therapist will help the patient with swallowing, eating and drinking skills. If the patient's speech is affected by the stroke so is the ability to swallow. Communications skills are taught by the speech therapist either through speech exercises, communication boards or cards to name a few.
A stoke can be demeaning and dehumanizing. The recreational therapist's role is to help the patient maintain and enhance the patient's quality of life. They will help the patient get out for a day to go shopping or visit community activities. The recreational therapist will help them make lunches, play games, keep up on current events, enjoy music and socialize within the realms of their abilities.
It would be difficult for patients to thrive without the dedication of the rehabilitation team. Each department of the rehab team will help the patient achieve their best possible recovery.