Stroke treatment

 Stroke Treatment

    It is important to understand the different types of treatment in order to be an informed consumer. After all you are going to be spending a small fortune on rehabilitation, with only a limited number of treatment sessions. So it will be important to maximize your time in therapy.

   Therapists and rehab clinics are no different than other professionals/businesses; there are good ones and not so good ones. Many of us are thrown into this situation, without any real understanding or knowledge of how the system works. So we are likely to listen to the first person we meet on the rehab trail, and take their word as gospel. If we were going to buy a major appliance, most of us would take the time to find out about the different models available, different options, warranties, and price differences. We usually do not buy the first one we see, without asking questions. Choosing a rehab clinic/therapist should be no different, and the stakes are even higher. You should know what questions to ask, it may be worth the extra twenty minute drive, if a clinic in the next town has a better selection of rehab equipment, treatment options, therapists, or specializes in stroke rehab, etc.

    It is time we all become better consumers. As a group we are five million strong, with approximately seven hundred thousand new members every year, and our numbers are expected to double over the next twenty years. We must learn to speak with one educated voice, only then will we be able to affect change. The topics below give a brief overview,

Upper Extremity

    The upper extremity usually falls under the realm of an occupational therapist. If you have hemiplegia in your upper extremity, there are several things you will want to know. The first and most important thing is range of motion, if you do not keep the range of motion in your arm and hand; your chances of ever regaining the use of that limb are greatly reduced. Lets talk about the hand, as that is the most important part. The main purpose of the shoulder and elbow is to put the hand in a position to interact with your external environment. Without a functioning hand, the entire upper extremity will suffer. If your therapist can bend your wrist and fingers back, and states you range of motion is good, you may still need a splint. If you are not using your hand seventy to eighty percent of the time during the day, you need to be fitted with a splint. Even if you are doing range of motion three hours a day, the other twenty-one hours the fingers and wrist are staying in a shortened position (wrist hanging down and the fingers curled in). This leads to soft tissue (muscle/tendon) shortening of the finger flexors (the muscles that pull the fingers into a fist). Splints may be bulky and uncomfortable, but they will offer you the best possible chance of maintaining the length, and putting you in a good position (no pun intended) to maximize your chance for recovery. Studies show they need to be worn six to eight hours a day (you can wear them to bed). Without a splint you are at risk of developing contractures, think of them as the enemy, and they should be avoided at all cost! Please take this pearl with you.

Lower Extremity

    For lower extremity needs you will be dealing with a physical therapist. Some of you will experience drop foot (when your foot drops down), and you will need to be fitted with an AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis). Yes….another splint. There are many to choose from, and you want to research them. The best ones have a hinged ankle, with a heel stop. They offer limited ankle movement, but it is still better than the solid, or fixed ones that offer no ankle movement. Usually the rehab clinic will have an orthotists come in and make an impression of your lower extremity, to insure a good fit. A good fit is important, as pressure areas can cause serious problems down the road. Remember it is important to wear your splint, not only for safety, but to prevent s