Post Stroke Therapy To Restore Quality of Life

Post stroke therapy is an important part of the treatment of diseases obtained by stroke sufferers. Exercises carried out in post-stroke therapy can help them carry out their daily routine independently, and help maintain brain function that can still be maintained. Stroke is a serious condition that occurs when blood vessels in the brain rupture or blood flow to parts of the brain is blocked by blood clots. People who have had a stroke often experience a decrease in brain function, which can be a disturbance in speaking, remembering, moving, and so forth. Restoring the body's abilities after a stroke is a long process that requires patience, hard work, and commitment.

When should you start post-stroke therapy?

The right time to start therapy immediately after stroke is 24-48 hours after the attack, provided the condition of the sufferer is stable. During this period, the health care provider will help patients in post-stroke therapy move in bed. Its function is to strengthen the patient's limbs, thus helping stroke patients to be able to care for themselves and return to their activities independently. However, post-stroke therapy should be started in accordance with the doctor's recommendations taking into account the patient's condition. Rehabilitation or stroke therapy cannot cure damage caused by a stroke. Fortunately, the human brain is able to adapt quickly and well. Over time, different parts of the brain can take over the role of other parts of the brain. Certain brain cells can recover from temporary damage.

Types of Post-Stroke Therapy

Rehabilitation or post-stroke therapy aims to help stroke patients relearn lost abilities or skills and improve their quality of life. The type and degree of impairment experienced by stroke patients may vary. Post-stroke therapy is certainly not the same and must be as directed by a doctor or therapist. The following are examples of forms of exercise commonly given to post-stroke therapy patients.

• Memory therapy

The amount of memory lost after a stroke depends on the age, severity of the stroke, the location of the stroke, and the health condition of the patient before the stroke. Memory loss in stroke patients can be recovered in several ways as follows:
• Stimulate the brain with brain sharpening games.
• Stick the writing in a certain place, for example "don't forget to brush your teeth" in the bathroom as a reminder.
• Practice memory with an acronym that is an abbreviation of several words or rhyming words alike.
• Put things in a place that you will definitely see. For example, putting clothes that will be used for tomorrow in bed.
• Repeating information obtained repeatedly, or using a recording device.
• Move as often as possible.
• Eating foods that are beneficial to the brain such as omega-3 fatty acids.
• Talk with family and friends.
• Meeting other people with the same suffering.
• Write down what needs to be done.

• Movement therapy

It is an important standard form of stroke physiotherapy. Research reveals that motion therapies such as treadmills, balance exercise, and weight lifting, have been shown to improve stroke walking abilities after one year of training. Quality of life is increasing regardless of the severity of the stroke suffered. In addition, motion therapy can also be done by:
• Always replace sleeping or sitting position to improve posture and balance is assisted by a therapist, so that muscles and joints are not stiff.
• If it has shown improvement, the therapist can ask post-stroke therapy patients to move around in bed, move from bed to chair, repeat sitting and standing positions.
• Practice moving your arms and legs (with or without the help of objects), of course accompanied by a therapist or doctor.

• Speech therapy

After a stroke, speech disturbance is one of the effects that can occur. Speech therapy is one part of post-stroke therapy that can be done to help stroke patients train their speech skills, as well as train swallowing and speaking muscles to return to function. Some ways you can do to practice your speech skills after a stroke are:
• First, the therapist will help the patient to swallow. For example, by asking the patient to swallow 50 ml of water.
• Then the therapist will assess the patient's general ability to communicate. For example, by assessing how well patients understand words or sentences, how difficult patients express themselves, and others.
• The technique that the therapist uses to help the communication difficulties of stroke patients depends on how big the problem is experienced.
• If the patient has difficulty understanding the meaning of words, the therapist can ask the patient to match words with pictures, sort words according to meanings, and determine words that have the same meaning.
• If it is difficult to find the word you want to say, the patient is asked to practice naming things, practice rhyming words, or repeat the words the therapist is saying.
• Exercising the strength of the mouth muscles, giving direction to say a word or letter.
• Practice the ability to compose words.
• Practice reading and writing skills.

The duration of post-stroke therapy is very dependent on the severity and complications of stroke, as well as the patient's response to therapy. Therefore, it is important for patients and their families to discuss with doctors and therapists, regarding determining the right type of post-stroke therapy.