In the United States, stroke is the leading cause of serious disability among adults. The effects of stroke disability are devastating for stroke sufferers and their families, but therapies can help patients recover after a stroke.

Physical therapy is the most common form of rehabilitation for stroke patients. It is the purpose of physical therapy for stroke patients to regain the ability to walk, sit, stand, lay down, and switch from one type of movement to another.

Patients can also benefit from occupational therapy to re-learn daily activities. Exercise and training are also part of this type of therapy. Patients learn to eat, drink, swallow, dress, bathe, cook, read, write, and use the toilet after a stroke. The goal of occupational therapy is to help the patient become independent or semi-independent.

In speech therapy, stroke patients regain language and speaking skills, or learn other ways to communicate. There are some patients who need speech therapy even if they have no cognitive or thinking problems, but struggle to understand speech or written words, or have difficulty forming speech. It is possible for stroke survivors to regain some, and sometimes all, of their language and speaking abilities with time and patience.

Usually, within 1-2 days after a stroke, post-stroke physical therapy begins in the hospital. As part of the physical therapy treatment, the physical therapist will encourage the patient to move independently, such as changing positions in bed. Eventually, the patient will be encouraged to begin moving their arms and legs, or sit up in bed, with the help of the therapist. Additionally, the patient will be encouraged to move as much as possible by himself or herself. Depending on the severity of the stroke, this may involve getting out of bed, supporting their weight on their own, or walking around. 

A stroke patient will usually begin more intensive rehab after being discharged from the hospital, which will include physical therapy. Exercise programs will be designed by a licensed physical therapist, addressing the side effects of a stroke specifically. As part of their rehabilitation regime, they will focus on restoring as much normal function as possible to each patient, including the range of motion, balance, motor control, strength, and endurance.

The physical therapist may use brain plasticity to reduce disabilities when a patient has lost some or full control of an arm or leg during a stroke.

During complex movements such as walking up and down stairs, programs will be designed to guide the patient. To regain muscle control and build strength and flexibility, a series of repetition exercises may also be performed. 

Rehabilitating after a stroke involves a variety of therapies designed to help you regain the skills you lost. Rehabilitation can help you with movement, speech, strength, and daily living skills, depending on the parts of your brain affected by the stroke. Rehabilitation can help patients to reestablish their independence and improve their quality of life following the effects of a stroke.

There are a wide variety of complications associated with stroke – and how well each person recovers afterward varies. Research has shown that stroke survivors who participate in a focused stroke rehabilitation program do better than those who do not. Stroke rehabilitation is therefore recommended for everyone who has suffered a stroke.

To regain strength, coordination, balance, and motor control after a stroke, physical therapy is essential. Through a supervised and customized exercise program, a physical therapist addresses physiological impairments that result from a stroke, such as walking difficulties or impaired limbs. The goal of physical therapy is to retrain the brain and the body to regain coordination, muscle control, strength, and balance. 

Stroke rehabilitation is available at Progressive Physical Therapy. For more information, contact us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 15 Spinning Wheel Road Ste. 24 Hinsdale, IL 60521. We serve patients from Hinsdale IL, Chicago IL, Oak Park IL, Lombard IL, Downers Grove IL, Bridgeview IL, and Oak Lawn IL.