By Hadley Gavin
People who survive a stroke are at an increased risk for long-term disability and face challenges completing everyday activities. After a stroke, it is important for the patient to undergo rehab. Some stroke centers start rehabilitation immediately after the patient is admitted to the hospital. Aside from getting immediate stroke treatment, sufferers need to learn some ways to maximize their recovery. These include the following:
Seek Urgent Care
When a stroke is suspected, you must seek emergent care. Patients who arrive at the emergency department within three hours of their first symptoms have less disability months following a stroke than those who get delayed care.
Get your Rehab at the Top Care Center
If possible, try to be involved in acute inpatient rehab after a stroke. Studies show that this kind of rehab will help you get better outcomes. For some survivors, therapy includes restraining an unaffected limb to encourage movement and use of the affected limb. Also, it may include range of motion therapy that helps in reducing muscle tension and improve how far and how smoothly the patient can move the body’s affected parts.
Address your Emotions
Even those with mild stroke may grieve their pre-stroke life and abilities. The impact of stroke on the brain areas that regulate emotions usually trigger depression, anxiety, and involuntary bouts of laughter, crying, or anger. When left untreated, post-stroke depression can result in social isolation, less energy, and apathy which can make the patient reluctant to take part in therapy. As these emotions can get in the way recovery, a rehab program should address both the psychological and physical aspects of a stroke.
Seek Counselling
After you identify and admit to have difficult emotions, you should reach out to professional therapists for counseling and consider medication. These can help with the emotional impacts of stroke. Some stroke survivors experience motor skills recovery by taking antidepressants.
Talk therapy sessions can talk about walking, learning new ideas, reading, and other things that can help the patient regain their humanity and independence. If you want to keep your mind busy during the early days of your recovery, focus on researching your condition and what you could do to regain the most function.
Perform Exercises
You need to incorporate physical activity into your rehab to help your emotional recovery. You can perform a range of motion and stretching exercises, ankle stretches, leg lifts, and knee flexion. Your therapy will design the most suitable exercise plan for you.
