Rehabilitation plays a big part in healing. It may last months to years after the stroke. A person will need to learn new ways to daily tasks. Many assistive technologies and adaptive tools can help.
Help will be needed for:
Speech Problems
It may be hard to speak or understand words after a stroke. A person may also have recall problems and find it hard to put words together. Speech therapy can help. It may take a lot of time and effort.
Swallowing Problems
Swallowing problems can get in the way of eating well and staying hydrated. It may also cause a person to choke or cough while eating, or cough up food after eating. This can cause people to breathe food and liquid into the lungs, which raises the risk of aspiration pneumonia .
Speech therapists can help. Short or long term changes may need to be made to the kinds of foods a person eats or how they eat them.
Problems Walking or Movement
A person may have problems walking. They may also need to relearn how to sit up. Walking aids, such as a cane or braces, can help support weakened muscles. Physical therapy will also play a big role in care. A therapist can teach a person how to move after a stroke has caused lack of strength in the legs or body.
Occupational therapy can also help with daily tasks like eating, dressing, bathing, and going to the bathroom. Therapists can help.
Fine Motor Problems
Hands and arms may also suffer from a stroke. A person may need to relearn how to do tasks like writing or using utensils. Occupational therapists can teach a person how to use assistive devices that can help.
Spatial Neglect
A person may have problems processing stimuli from the world. Cognitive behavioral therapy may help.
Dependency
A person may have to depend on others to eat, move, dress, and get to the bathroom. This is the hardest part of a stroke for most people.
Family and friends can help. There are also professional caregivers who can help with these tasks.
Depression
Depression is feeling sad and hopeless and not wanting to do things that were once enjoyed. It is common after a stroke. It can be treated by working with a therapist and taking medicine.
References
Life after a stroke. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.stroke.org/en/life-after-stroke. Accessed March 14, 2022.
Long-term management of stroke. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/management/long-term-management-of-stroke. Accessed March 11, 2022.
Post-stroke rehabilitation. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: https://www.stroke.nih.gov/materials/rehabilitation.htm. Accessed March 14, 2022.
Stroke. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/stroke. Accessed March 11, 2022.
Stroke rehabilitation in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/management/stroke-rehabilitation-in-adults. Accessed March 14, 2022.
Swallowing dysfunction after stroke. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/swallowing-dysfunction-after-stroke. Accessed March 14, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review BoardRimas Lukas, MD
- Review Date: 11/2021
- Update Date: 03/14/2022