Like a heart attack, a stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is reduced or stopped, depriving that area of oxygen. As the third leading cause of death in the U.S., and the leading cause of serious long-term disability, stroke can result in temporary and/or permanent damage. Physical therapists, who are experts in restoring and improving human motion, play an important role not only in treating the effects of stroke but also in prevention and risk reduction.
Warning Signs of a Stroke
-sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
-sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
-sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
-sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
-sudden, severe headache with no known cause
If you or someone with you shows one or more of these warning signs, immediately call 911. For early and most effective treatment, it is important to make a note of the time that symptoms began.
Prevention: Some risk factors, such as family history, age, gender, race, and previous heart attack or stroke, cannot be changed. However there are many risk factors that CAN be controlled, such as high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, carotid artery disease, obesity, and physical inactivity. Physical therapists can help reduce risk factors and reverse their effects by creating an exercise program that addresses multiple conditions as well as prevention.
Rehabilitation: Recovering from a stroke depends on its size and location, how quickly you receive care, and in some cases, other pre-existing health conditions. Rehab begins very soon after your stroke, and physical therapists are an important part of the recovery team. The main focus of rehab is to help you return to your highest level of activity. The sooner that your rehab process can start, the better the patient’s outcome.