STROKE MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT APPROACH FROM MARTVIC EXERCISE THERAPY CENTRE.
WHAT EXERCISE THERAPY CAN DO
By;
Dr Martin Sisa Yauma (PHD) Sports Medicine Consultant)
Mr. Joshua Waweru (Physical Therapist)
#Physical/Exercise Therapy
#Metabolic Health
What is Stroke?
Strokes occur due to problems with the blood supply to the brain; either the blood supply is blocked or a blood vessel within the brain ruptures.
Causes
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to your brain is interrupted or reduced. This deprives your brain of oxygen and nutrients, which can cause your brain cells to die.
Symptoms:
Trouble with speaking and understanding.
Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg.
Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes.
Headache, accompanied by vomiting, dizziness or altered consciousness.
Reverse it!
Combine medicine treatment and exercise therapy to achieve great results.
Integrating physical therapy with medicinal treatment for stroke patients can significantly improve their recovery outcomes. This multidisciplinary approach leverages the strengths of both medical and rehabilitative strategies to address the diverse needs of stroke survivors. Here’s an overview of how these two forms of treatment can be effectively combined:
Medicinal Treatment
These treatment for stroke primarily focuses on:
- Acute Management that’s encompasses;
- Thrombolytics: Medications like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to dissolve blood clots in ischemic stroke, if administered within a specific time window.
- Antiplatelets and Anticoagulants: Medications such as aspirin or warfarin to prevent further clot formation.
- Blood Pressure Management: Antihypertensives to control high blood pressure, reducing the risk of future strokes.
- Cholesterol Management: Statins to lower cholesterol levels and reduce atherosclerosis risk.
- Post-Stroke Management:
- Neuroprotective Agents: Medications that help protect brain cells from further damage.
- Antidepressants: To manage post-stroke depression, which can affect rehabilitation outcomes.
- Spasticity Management: Muscle relaxants or botulinum toxin injections to manage muscle spasticity.
Exercise Therapy
This aims to restore movement and function and improve quality of life through:
- Motor Skills Rehabilitation:
- Strengthening Exercises: To improve muscle strength and endurance.
- Coordination and Balance Training: To enhance stability and reduce the risk of falls.
- Range of Motion Exercises: To maintain or improve joint flexibility.
- Functional Training:
- Gait Training: To improve walking ability and overall mobility.
- Task-Specific Training: To practice activities of daily living (ADLs) like dressing, bathing, and eating.
- Neuromuscular Reeducation:
- Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT): Encouraging use of the affected limb by restricting the unaffected limb.
- Mirror Therapy: Using a mirror to create a visual feedback loop that can help improve motor function.
- Technological Aids:
- Robotic Therapy: Using robotic devices to assist with repetitive movement exercises.
- Virtual Reality (VR) Therapy: Engaging patients in interactive, immersive exercises.
INTERGRATION BRINGS BETTER RESULTS
The integration of physical therapy and medicinal treatment involves a coordinated effort between healthcare providers, including neurologists, physiatrists, physical therapists, and primary care physicians.
Key strategies include:
- Interdisciplinary Communication:
Regular meetings and consultations between medical and rehabilitation teams to discuss patient progress and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
- Personalized Treatment Plans:
- Developing individualized rehabilitation programs based on the patient’s specific medical history, stroke severity, and functional limitations.
- Adjusting medication dosages and types based on the patient’s response to physical therapy.
- Patient and Family Education:
- Educating patients and their families about the importance of adherence to both medicinal and physical therapy regimens.
- Providing resources and support for managing side effects of medications and encouraging active participation in therapy.
- Continuous Monitoring and Adjustment:
- Regular assessment of the patient’s progress through clinical evaluations and feedback from the patient and family.
- Adjusting therapeutic exercises and medications as needed to optimize recovery and address any emerging issues.
- Dietary recommendations.
In the majority of cases, cardiovascular pathology courtesy of chronic metabolic syndrome is a significant contributing factor underlying the occurrence of the stroke. Obesity is also a co-existing factor. Therefore, addressing the underlying root cause (chronic metabolic syndrome) is key in the management of stroke.
By combining the immediate benefits of medicinal treatment with the long-term improvements offered by physical therapy, stroke patients can achieve better functional outcomes and improve their overall quality of life. This holistic approach also helps to prevent complications, reduce the risk of recurrent strokes, and support the patient’s journey towards regaining independence.
This treatment which is affordable enables patients to manage and reverse this disease to its entire extinction without struggle.
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