Rehab Select Blog

For patients and their loved ones, the physical effects of stroke – paralysis, weakness, vision loss, and pain, among many other potential problems – are clear. However, the emotional effects of stroke can be much more difficult to recognize, and they can be just as traumatic and limiting as physical problems – even more so in some cases. For that reason, understanding these changes and taking steps to address them is essential to making the most of stroke rehab and recovery. 

When an area of the brain experiences a sudden reduction or loss of blood flow, the affected brain cells are deprived of oxygen and, within seconds, begin to die. This process is known as a stroke. Strokes are both relatively common and extremely serious - the Mayo Clinic categorizes them as a medical emergency requiring urgent treatment.

Stroke is the most frequent cause of long-term disability in the U.S. and the fifth leading cause of death, according to the American Stroke Association.

It’s difficult to watch someone you care about suffer through a stroke, and the additional prospect of taking responsibility for their care can be overwhelming. However, with some preparation and advocacy, you can take some of the pressure off and make the best decisions to support your loved one’s recovery.

Rehab Select’s stroke rehabilitation program aims to promote evidence- and guideline-based care in order to maximize patient outcomes. By improving the organization, direction, and efficiency of care, we are able to support effective education delivery, patient transition, and discharge planning services while simultaneously reducing the cost of service.

A stroke is one of the most serious medical conditions that a person can experience. During a stroke, blood clots or constricted vessels in the brain prevent its nerve cells from getting the nutrients they need: as a result, these cells begin to die off. Having a stroke can cause symptoms like vision loss, difficulty talking or walking, trouble with the use of muscles, and other serious conditions. In the worst cases, it can even mean death.

A stroke is one of the most devastating things that can happen to someone: strokes can leave their victims mentally and physically weak, taking away some of the most basic functions that the human body provides. Fortunately for victims of strokes, technology is constantly making stroke rehabilitation easier and more effective. One of the newest trends in stroke rehabilitation is the use of video games to help stroke patients recover the full use of their limbs.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and it affects more than 800,000 people per year., according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After having a stroke, people have difficulty moving around, speaking or performing regular activities. While medication is helpful in treating the initial cause of the stroke –and sometimes the resulting complications –physiotherapy can be of long-term benefit. According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, high intensity physiotherapy begun within 24 hours after a stroke can lead to better outcomes.

Here’s why this rapid mode of treatment is needed after a stroke and how it helps patients recover faster.

A stroke occurs when a blood clot in an artery breaks free, stopping the circulation to a specific region of the brain. During the event, not only is blood flow interrupted, but cells in the brain die as well. Strokes in the U.S. kill just over 130,000 people annually and often lead to long-term rehabilitation for those who survive. A stroke may occur at any time in a person’s life and is classified as either ischemic (the most common form) or hemorrhagic.

One of the most common side effects after suffering a stroke is difficulty with speech. This can be very frustrating for the stroke victim and can make recovery all that much more difficult. Speech therapy is an essential part of stroke rehab, as it offers the patient the ability to recover the ability to communicate.