subject: Information About Stroke And Neuro Rehab Products [print this page] This article will provide information about stroke as well as neuro rehab products. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel breaks or a blood clot blocks an artery interrupting the blood flow to a certain area of the brain. When this happens, brains cells die and brain damage may occur. The loss of speech, movement and memory frequently seen with stroke are caused by the death of these brain cells.
How a stroke victim is affected depends on two things: where the stroke occurred in the brain and how badly the brain was damaged. For example, an individual who has a minor stroke may experience weakness of a leg or arm. Whereas, an individual who has a larger stroke may lose their ability to speak or may be paralyzed on one side of their body. Some individuals have a full recovery from stroke but more than two-thirds of stroke survivors have some form of disability.
In the United States of America, approximately 800,000 individuals suffer a stroke each year and roughly two-thirds of these people survive and require post-stroke rehab. The goal of this therapy is to help stroke survivors become as independent as possible. Even though post-stroke neuro rehab does not "cure" the survivor in that it does not reverse the damage to the brain, therapy can help survivors achieve the best-possible long-term outcome.
Recovery from a stroke is a lifelong process. For many individuals, stroke therapy or recovery begins with neuro rehab, which can restore a victim's independence by improving mental, physical and emotional functions. The goal of neuro rehab is to help stroke victims relearn basic skills that may have been taken away such as eating, walking, dressing and talking.
Post-stroke therapy should begin as soon as possible. Once the stroke survivor is stable, therapy often begins within 24 to 48 hours. The initial stage of rehabilitation commonly occurs within an acute-care hospital. When the survivor is discharged, the family and the survivor commonly coordinate with hospital social workers to find a suitable living arrangement. A majority of stroke survivors return to their homes and participate in home-based neuro rehab programs, however some move to some type of medical facility including impatient rehabilitation units, outpatient units and nursing facilities.
Researchers have found that intense, interactive movement can improve function in the upper extremity of stroke and other brain injury survivors. Rehabilitation devices provide an interactive training environment that encourages the patient to improve their hand function with active repetitive motion hand physical therapy programs.
These neuro rehab devices immerse the patient in a game-like environment. By interacting with the hand therapy and foot therapy games, the patient is encouraged to move their hand or foot to play the game. If the patient is unsuccessful in completing a specific task, the neuro rehab device gives assistance so that the full range of motion is realized.
If you or a loved one has recently suffered a stroke, contact your local physician for information about strokes as well as neuro rehab devices.
