Electrical stimulation is the application, through electrodes on the skin, of electrical current to muscles to stimulate contractions. Patients of electrical stimulation can experience decreased pain, muscle re-education and strengthening, increased range of motion, increased circulation, decreased spasticity, reduced edema, decreased inflammation and improvement in overall function.
The SaeboStim Micro is an electrical stimulation device that is easy for a survivor to use at home, with all the benefit of more expensive therapist-operated equipment. The Micro is a sensory electrical stimulation device, which is better for encouraging the return of sensation.
The brain is capable of forming new connections in response to a brain injury. Neuroplasticity helps re — establish communication between the injured parts of the brain and the body. This phenomenon, in part, is what enables stroke survivors to regain motor function in the hands and other areas of the body.
For neuroplasticity to occur, the neurons must be continuously stimulated through activity. Stroke survivors who use repetition to promote neuroplasticity show significant progress in their recoveries. One study found that patients who struggled with grasp and release exercises demonstrated increased reorganization in the cortical area of the brain after taking part in a repetitive rehabilitation program.
This is why performing at-home exercises repeatedly is so important. Without dedicated repetition, the brain cannot rebuild the neural networks that were damaged during the stroke. The quality of the practice is important, too. Exercises must be performed in a present and engaged state of mind.
This will also help bolster the necessary motivation to move past plateaus. During stroke rehabilitation, there are natural dips and peaks in recovery. It does not occur in a straight line. There may be times when a survivor experiences a plateau. During a plateau, it might seem like progress is impossible, or a distant memory.
However, it is both possible and necessary to persist through the plateau to continue making progress. Utilizing a strong support system — friends, family, and therapist — can make a big difference in continuing the journey to recovery. Stroke rehabilitation as a whole can be a slow process. However, it is important not to lose hope. Stroke survivors can recover function in paralyzed limbs, sometimes even decades after a stroke.
They will aim to keep your muscles supple to prevent spasticity and contractures from developing. If you do develop spasticity or contractures after your stroke you should be assessed to find the best treatment for you. This may include a combination of physiotherapy, treatment with botulinum toxin type A and medication. If you have spasticity you should have physiotherapy regularly to move your joints. Your physiotherapist will gently place your affected limb into as many different positions as possible.
This stretching should be taught to your family and carers so that they can help you to practise your exercises. It has several brand names including Botox, Dysport and Xeomin. It reduces muscle tone, which can help you to straighten out your limbs.
Botulinum toxin type A is given as an injection directly into the muscle, and is mainly used in the hands, wrists and ankles. The muscle-relaxing effects usually last for about three months and you should not notice any changes in sensation in your muscles. You should have physiotherapy alongside treatment with botulinum toxin type A.
This may include providing a splint, electrical stimulation or a brace to ensure that any range gained in the muscle is maintained.
You should be assessed three to four months after the treatment, and you may be offered further treatments if helpful. If you find that you are still experiencing muscle stiffness, you may be prescribed medication to help reduce this stiffness and the pain that often accompanies muscle spasms. There are different types of drugs available.
They all work in slightly different ways, but they all help to relax your muscles, move more easily and stretch them further. You may also find that it becomes easier to straighten or bend your affected limbs, and you may notice fewer muscle spasms.
The main types of medication offered for spasticity are baclofen and tizanidine. If these drugs do not work, there are others that may help. This medication should only be prescribed by someone who specialises in managing spasticity.
Changes in sensation may improve with time and some people benefit from different techniques like cognitive behavioural therapy CBT , relaxation and meditation. If you have painful sensation changes, treatment can include medication such as antidepressants. Call if you think you are having a stroke. Home What is stroke? Diagnosis to discharge Childhood stroke Living with stroke After hospital discharge Effects of stroke Aphasia and communication Fatigue and tiredness Stroke publications Know your risk Are you at risk of stroke?
Physical effects of stroke Physical effects of stroke 1. Physical effects of stroke 2. Headaches after stroke 3. Changes to taste and smell 4. Swallowing problems 5. Vision problems after stroke 6. Bladder and bowel problems 7. Balance problems after stroke 8. Seizures and epilepsy after stroke 9. Pain after stroke. The information on this page can be accessed in the following formats: Download this information as a pdf or large print document.
Order a printed copy from our shop To request a braille copy, email helpline stroke. Types of physical change after a stroke:. Muscle weakness Nearly three-quarters of stroke survivors in the UK have leg weakness, and over three quarters have arm weakness. Foot drop This is a condition where your toes catch on the ground when you step forward, and you may lift your foot higher than usual when walking, or swing the leg outwards.
Fatigue After a stroke, many people have fatigue or tiredness that does not get better with rest. Pain Pain is another common physical problem. Spasticity Muscle tone is the amount of resistance or tension in the muscles which enables you to move and stay in position.
Contractures Sometimes spasticity can cause a permanent shortening of the muscles, known as a contracture. Changes in sensation A stroke can affect your sensation in various ways: Feeling less sensitive to touch — this is called hypoesthesia. Your limbs may feel numb and this can cause difficulties. For example, if you are unaware of pressure on your skin, such as tight clothing or shoes, they might rub and damage your skin without you noticing.
Feeling less sensitive to temperature. If you experience this you could be at risk of burning yourself or becoming too cold, so you may need to take extra measures to look after yourself. For example, you might need to carefully test water temperatures with your good hand if having a shower or when washing up. Feeling more sensitive to stimuli. This is called hyperesthesia and can affect a range of your senses such as your taste, hearing or touch. After a stroke, some people find watching television or being in crowded places difficult as they seem too loud.
Feeling unaware of the position and movement of your limbs. Your body has a system that makes it aware of its position and movement. Some people have problems with this after a stroke.
If this is the case for you, you may have difficulty moving around, and you might find that you need to look at your limbs to know where they are.
Some people feel as if their limbs or part of them feel like they do not belong to them, or like they have altered size or shape. Having unusual sensations on your skin or in your limbs — this is sometimes called dysesthesia or paresthesia. Common sensations are pins and needles or tingling in your affected limbs. Post-stroke fatigue is a common condition and can be experienced following a stroke at any point during the recovery process. Post-stroke fatigue is often under-recognized; thus, healthcare professionals should anticipate the possibility of post-stroke fatigue and prepare people who have experienced a stroke and families to mitigate fatigue through assessment, education, and interventions throughout the stroke-recovery continuum [Evidence Level B].
Note: Post-stroke fatigue does not appear to be correlated to the severity of stroke. People who experience very mild stroke may still experience post-stroke fatigue. Post-stroke fatigue is generally under-diagnosed and not routinely assessed in people who have experienced a stroke. However, symptoms of fatigue are often reported by people who have experienced a stroke in both the acute and chronic stages of recovery following a stroke.
Additionally, these rates have not shown marked decline after the post-acute stage to even years following the injury. It can occur in any person who has experienced a stroke and has not been found to be dependently related to size, location or severity of stroke. It is commonly associated with low mood and sleep disturbances but can arise in their absence. Therefore, recommendations are included here to raise awareness of the frequency of post-stroke fatigue, the physical and emotional impact of PSF on people who have experienced a stroke and the negative impact on recovery and outcomes.
Patient Information. Post-stroke fatigue PSF is known to occur commonly, is associated with mood disorders and pain, and negatively impacts recovery. Persons experiencing PSF report common experiences including having less capacity and energy, an abnormal tiredness and an overwhelming need for long-lasting sleep, being easily fatigued, fatigue for which there was no obvious cause or explanation and increased stress sensitivity Eilertsen et al.
The incidence of PSF is difficult to estimate given that many patients report symptoms of pre-stroke fatigue Lerdal et al. At the time of admission to inpatient rehabilitation, fatigue was present in Schepers et al. Overall, fatigue was present in Of the patients reporting fatigue at one year, Van der Port et al.
Parks et al. Among those reported fatigue, In perhaps the largest systematic review of its kind, Cumming et al. Snaphaan et al. In a systematic review Duncan et al.
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