Stroke

Stroke

What is a stroke?

A stroke occurs when there is limited blood supply to an area/s in your brain. This can be caused by either a blockage or damage to your blood vessels. The severity and recovery time from a stroke is dependent on a variety of factors such as area of the brain that is damaged, the amount of time passed with limited blood supply and the size of the damage to the brain.

In 2017, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2020) estimated that approximately 38,000 people suffered from a stroke. The symptoms you may experience if you are recovering from a stroke include:

  • weakness

  • loss of sensation

  • spasticity

  • loss of coordination

  • balance problems

How can physio express Help Me?

Rehabilitation after a stroke is essential to your recovery and to enable you to work towards returning to your previous level of function. When you are sent home from hospital you may find that you have not yet achieved your long term goals. We offer home visits to patients who have just returned home from hospital or are further into their journey.

Our treatments will also be specific to your ability and may include:

  • tailored exercises to assist you in improving your mobility, strength, coordination and balance

  • utilise task-specific training to optimise your treatment

  • management of symptoms such as spasticity, pain and contractures

  • mobility aid education and prescription

  • hydrotherapy

  • education around stroke rehabilitation and the benefits of exercise

  • and more …

references

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2020), Stroke, Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/stroke