A stroke is a serious brain disease that occurs suddenly and sometimes leaving serious consequences after itself, such as paralysis of the arms and legs, facial muscles. Therefore, it is important to know how to restore their work after this difficult event. However, before proceeding directly to the consideration of how to restore the arm and leg after a stroke, it is worthwhile to figure out what it is, why it occurs, and what symptoms will help suspect a stroke. Indeed, successful rehabilitation directly depends on timely diagnosis and treatment.
Stroke: what is it?
A stroke is a circulatory disturbance in the arteries of the brain that can occur when the lumen of the vessel is blocked by a thrombus or embolus (ischemic stroke) or when the thinned arterial wall ruptures (hemorrhagic stroke). Violation of the blood flow leads to a reduced supply of oxygen to the brain tissue, which causes its hypoxia and necrosis (death).
However, our brain is very plastic. If one site is lost, over time, another function will take over its function. But, this requires long and continuous training. That is why the answer to the question: “Is it possible to restore the hand after a stroke?”, Affirmative. Of course, the recovery time can be different, it all depends on the state of limb function, the extent of brain damage.
Types of Stroke
Circulatory disorders are divided, depending on localization, into a stroke in the synocarotid basin (its main vessels: the common and internal carotid arteries, anterior and middle cerebral arteries), as well as a stroke in the vertebrobasilar pool (its main arteries: basilar, vertebral, posterior cerebral) .
In addition, stroke is divided into ischemic and hemorrhagic. The need to learn how to restore the arm and leg after a stroke arises with circulatory disorders in the synocarotid pool. After all, there are blood vessels that supply blood to the areas of the brain that are responsible for the movement of the limbs.
Main symptoms
Since ischemic stroke is most common, its clinical manifestations are presented below.
In general, all the symptoms of a stroke can be divided into cerebral and focal. Focal symptoms are most specific, but sometimes they do not appear immediately, but they are preceded by cerebral symptoms: headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue and weakness.
Focal symptoms are characterized by the appearance of:
- Unilateral paralysis (complete inability to move the arm or leg) or paresis (weakness of the limb). It is characteristic that paralysis and paresis occur on the side opposite to the focus of brain damage. When the acute phase of the pathology passes and the patient has a question about how to restore the hand after a stroke, it is worth noting that with paresis a more favorable prognosis for rehabilitation than with paralysis, since this damage is less severe.
- Unilateral paralysis or paresis of the facial muscles, which is manifested by a lowered nasolabial fold, a deviation of the tongue, the inability to smile normally or bite the bullet.
- Speech impairment. It occurs with left-sided brain damage and is often combined with weakness in the right arm or leg. Therefore, after answering the question of how to restore the right hand after a stroke, the question often arises of the restoration of speech. As a rule, rehabilitation in these two conditions takes place in parallel.
If you observe the above symptoms at home or those who are near you, do not hesitate, immediately call an ambulance!
What is rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation is a group of medical, psychological, social, pedagogical and legal activities that are aimed at restoring the functions of the body, which suffered from certain diseases or injuries. Social adaptation is also important, that is, the person’s training is re-located in society, providing the patient with work and benefits appropriate to his condition.
Of greatest importance in studying the issue of how to restore a paralyzed arm after a stroke is medical rehabilitation. However, do not underestimate the other sections of the recovery of a patient who suffered from a stroke.
Basic principles
All rehabilitation measures aimed at restoring the hand after a stroke have the following principles:
- As early as possible the beginning of recovery activities. If the general condition of the patient is satisfactory, you can start even from the first days after a stroke. Time plays a large role in circulatory disorders of the brain. In addition, the patient's early motor activity helps prevent infectious and congestive complications (pneumonia, pressure sores, thrombophlebitis, thromboembolism, muscle dystrophy).
- Continuity and regularity of classes;
- Restorative measures must be started in the neurology department, and they continue in the rehabilitation department, and then in the spa conditions.
- Successful rehabilitation requires the active help of loved ones.
- Part of the recovery program after the full normalization of the general condition of the patient is carried out at home with the help of relatives.
- The duration of recovery largely depends on the extent of the brain lesion, the time of the beginning of rehabilitation (the sooner the better), the efforts that the patient makes, and assistance from relatives.
Movement therapy: tasks
The main method that allows you to restore arm movement after a stroke is motor therapy, or kinesitherapy. What tasks does she perform?
- Recovery or the maximum possible increase in range of motion in a damaged limb.
- Recovery of muscle tone of a damaged limb;
- The increase in strength in the hand.
- Restoration of the functions of balance and coordination.
- Providing the patient with a return to his daily life, which is ensured by the restoration of self-care skills.
- Normalization of agility.
Motion therapy: stages
When deciding on how to restore arm mobility after a stroke, it must be remembered that rehabilitation should be started as soon as possible, as soon as the general condition and consciousness of the patient allows.
At the first stage, attention is paid to passive gymnastics. This type of rehabilitation is performed by a radiologist, the patient, in turn, does not make any active movements of the injured limb. A rehabilitologist moves the patient's limb in all damaged joints, performing flexion, extensor, and rotational movements.
Further, the movements are complicated, the patient bends and unbends his fingers and toes, moves his hand and foot. Then exercises are done, including movements in the elbows and knees.
If the patient has a damaged lower limb, you also need to learn to walk gradually. First, the patient must sit confidently, then he trains to get up, then walk with support. For this, in the rehabilitation departments there are special tracks with handrails. If the violation of movements in the limb is very pronounced, up to paralysis, then real walking is preceded by its imitation, lying in bed.
Independent walking is possible only on condition that the patient confidently maintains balance and volumetric movements in the limbs are practically restored.
Special exercises
When deciding on how to restore a hand after a stroke, it is worth paying attention to special tasks and exercises.
At first, exercises are best performed with eyes closed, representing hand movements. You need to sit comfortably or lie down, relax as much as possible. It is necessary to imagine that the function of the hand is not impaired, it is able to move as before. Then you need to "put" these feelings on the hand, try to control it. And after concentrating well, try to move at least one finger.
At first it can turn out with difficulty or not at all. The main thing is not to give up, because with regular practice the range of movements will gradually expand.
Exercise to reduce spasm
The main problem faced by post-stroke patients, especially when the question arises of how to restore the arm six months after a stroke, is an increased muscle tone and muscle spasm. After all, if rehabilitation does not start on time, the muscles remain in that increased tone, as in the acute period of a stroke.
If rehabilitation begins even later, when muscle atrophy develops, the functions of the arm may not be restored. Therefore, the timely start of rehabilitation is so important!
Below are the basic rules that will help overcome muscle spasm and hypertonicity:
- every hour and a half, if possible more often, change the position of the hand, do not leave it for long in one position;
- to stretch the muscles with the help of exercises, constantly make movements in the joints;
- in the room where the patient is located, it should always be warm, and you should not lower your hand in cold water, since low temperature increases spasm;
- massage with spasticity should be very gentle and gentle, with stroking movements;
- Before starting exercise, it is necessary to rub the injured limb for about 30 seconds.
Basic principles of rehabilitation therapy
To achieve maximum efficiency and restore the left hand after a stroke, as well as the right, you need to adhere to a number of principles:
- any exercise should begin on the healthy side to activate the corresponding parts of the brain;
- maximum concentration of the patient on the exercises;
- constant change of exercises, their diversity;
- movements should be carried out in full to increase self-confidence;
- the presence of exercises that require the use of objects, both domestic and special;
- in the first place, large muscles and joints are developed, then fine motor skills;
- exercises should be complicated gradually, using tasks that require not only muscle tension, but also the use of memory or coordination. This increases the chances of recovery and increases brain plasticity.
Massage
In addition to physiotherapy exercises, which helps to restore the hand after a stroke, therapeutic massage is also effective. It is worth starting it with a healthy hand, with quick stroking movements that do not bring the patient painful sensations. Next, they switch to a sore arm.
When performing massage, as with motor exercises, phasing is important. First, massage the shoulder and forearm, then move on to the hands and phalanges of the fingers. At the final stages, the shoulder girdle is developed.
Well, if you are interested in how to restore your hand after a stroke, you should know that this is absolutely real. The main thing is perseverance, phasing, continuity. Even if at first it seems useless, after a series of classes the range of movements will gradually increase. Therefore, do not despair, because a stroke is not a sentence!