Stroke rehab
If you were admitted to hospital following your stroke, your physiotherapy will begin as an inpatient, most likely on a stroke ward. Following this, you will likely have some further rehabilitation at home or in an inpatient rehab hospital. This is all typically done under the care of the NHS. Following this, private Neuro Physio can be extremely beneficial in continuing your rehab journey & recovery as far as you possibly can.
We have 3 Neuro Physios at Harbourside, all with a special interest in stroke rehabilitation.
Weakness, or even complete paralysis (called hemiplegia) in the muscles of one side of your body is very common following a stroke. This can make it difficult to move or use your limbs and get about. Your limbs may move in a different way when you try to use them. For example, your hip may move upwards when you want to step forwards, or your elbow may move out to the side when you want to lift something.
Fatigue and tiredness are also common after stroke. This can affect how much activity you are able to do, including how long you can sit in a chair or walk around, and how long you can stay awake. To help manage fatigue, you need to plan rest as well as activity into your daily rehabilitation routine.
The good news is the body's ability to adapt & repair. Although brain cells that have been severely damaged or have died can’t grow back, the brain can re-wire itself, allowing you to relearn things like walking, speech and swallowing. This is called neuroplasticity - the process that happens in the brain when you do rehabilitation therapy. By repeating the therapy activities, your brain starts to form new connections, allowing you to improve.
Physiotherapy is the cornerstone of stroke recovery, focused on restoring movement, balance, and independence through this process of neuroplasticity. It can also significantly improve the fatigue associated with your stroke. In the early stages, physiotherapy may focus on preventing complications, guiding your recovery & helping you to adapt tasks so you can do them more independently. As the rehab progresses, it can help you find ways to enable you to do things that are important to you, such as getting in and out of bed, activities of daily living or enabling sports/physical activity again. Throughout the rehab process, depending on your presentation, our Neuro Physios utilise high-intensity exercises and repetition of activity to promote neuroplasticity. This helps the brain rewire itself, enabling patients to relearn lost motor functions, regain everyday mobility, and significantly improve their quality of life.
Our Neuro Physios at Harbourside are able to utilise a rehabilitation gym, with a neuro plinth, parallel bars & various other pieces of equipment to facilitate this rehabilitation process. Patients attending Harbourside Physiotherapy are also able to use our hydrotherapy pool - one of only a few in Cornwall & a fantastic facility for residents of West Cornwall. This enables patients following a stroke to access a freedom of movement that is often very difficult on land.