Stroke

A stroke can cause weakness or paralysis in one side of the body and problems with balance or coordination.

Although a stroke affects one side of the body, efficient movement and balance is dependent upon interplay between the two sides of the body, and therefore how a person functions using the perceived ‘unaffected’ side following a stroke is altered.

The bodies natural response following a stroke, is to use compensatory strategies to achieve movement and continued use of compensatory strategies results in tightening of a persons body into inefficient postures which ultimately limits the functional activity they were initially being used to achieve.

The aim of physiotherapy is to facilitate the incorporation of activity on both sides of the body as recovery takes place and is very important during the early stages of rehabilitation.

However, it is still possible to positively influence longstanding postures and movements should they have developed.

Recovery may be limited to varying degrees dependent upon the severity of damage to the brain but stroke sufferers can continue to improve for many years.

There may be limitation of a persons ability to fully gain control of their movements and therefore they may need to rely on a degree of ‘appropriate’ compensatory activity. The person and/or their carers, need to have gained an insight in to how to manage the situation in order to prevent these becoming established and static.

Physiotherapy has an important role to play in education of both client and carers re posture, balance, movement and long term maintenance. Ongoing physiotherapy is often required to assist in maintaining a persons level of posture and/or functional abilities.

Spasticity can be a common presentation in people who have suffered a stroke and can lead to tightness, pain and lack of function. However, its presentation can be positively changed by the mobilisation of tight muscles/joints and the facilitation of appropriate movement strategies.

Some people may be limited in the recovery available to them due to the severity of the damage to their brain following the stroke and other factors such as their general health. 

Facilitation of appropriate postures and the prevention of contractures is important to ensure a persons comfort and quality of life, and ease handling by carers throughout personal care and transfers.