Question

What treatment approaches can be used to minimize the functional loss of brain due to strokes? Explain in your own words!

Answer 1

Stroke is a condition related to brain in which blood supply to the brain is reduced or completely stopped due damage in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. This in turn reduces oxygen supply leading to the death of brain cells, which is irreparable that in turn leads to changes in physical and mental health of the affected individual.

Initally as a response to this changes brain tries to heal itself by reducing swelling in the effected area, removing any harmful substances present in the brain, tries to improve circulation to the damaged area, other parts of the brain tries to take over the function of damaged cells. Recent researches even prove that brain can produce new cells in place of damaged cells.

Along with medication , rehabilitation also plays a major role in treatment of stroke patients.

Rehabilitation includes various aspects like

Physiotherapy

Occupational therapy

Speech therapy

In case of stroke patients as early as the treatment is started there are greater chances of recovery. The chances of recovery reduces if the treatment is delayed.

Main aim of any therapy is to improve the mobility of the patient and make them independent as much as possible, and encourage them to perform their daliy activities by themselves and to improve their lost communication.

Few specific methods used in rehabilitation are as follows

1.Passive range of motion exercises

In this case as patient cannot do exercise themselves physiotherapist or nurse or any of their family members make them do the exercise.

2.Mental practice

In this method we encourage patient to visualize themselves that they are walking or performing any task that they like the most which helps them in a positive way.

3.Therapeutic rehabilitation exercise

These exercise help to improve movement of affected side

4.Constriant -Induced movement therapy

In this therapy patient is encouraged to use the affected side by restricting the use of normal side.

5.Magnetic barin stimulation.

In this method affected or damaged part of the brain is stimulated, this in turn helps individual to improve their mobility and gait.

6.Electrical stimulation

In this affected part is stimulated using external stimuli to improve nerve conduction in affected parts.

7.Mirror therapy

Helps to improve hand mobility.

8.Music therapy

It helps to enrich barin environment.

9.Speech and cognitive therapy

It helps is regaining the speech and other methods of communication.