What is a Stroke?
Stroke is a leading cause of disability in adults. PT Unlimited can help relieve the effects of a stroke by working to improve balance, walking, and the use of assistive devices. Common therapies for post-stroke rehabilitation include constraint-induced movement therapy, functional electrical stimulation, motor image, partial body weight support, and neuro therapy techniques.
Biofeedback is a type of neurological therapy that helps improve awareness of muscle function and how it may need to be changed. This is done by attaching electrodes to the skin in order to measure muscle activity on a screen. After a stroke, our Castle Shannon, PA physical therapist can help you regain your functional skills so you can get back to living your life independently.
What Will Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Look Like?
Physical therapy is a vital part of the recovery for anyone who has suffered from a stroke. A thorough evaluation is done in various stages of the rehabilitation process to determine progression in strength, transfers, walking, balance, range of motion, and safety. Our licensed Castle Shannon, PA physical therapists approach the care of each individual, adapting the best rehabilitative process to each case.
We’ll delve into your medical history to understand the root of your stroke. Past injuries, surgeries, and illnesses can shed light on your condition, providing vital clues to tailor an effective treatment strategy.
Our physical therapists devise a unique treatment plan to suit your needs, using a variety of clinically proven techniques, including:
- Mobility Work: Our therapists incorporate targeted stretching in-clinic and home-based regimes. These exercises aim to increase your range of motion, improve muscle function, and reduce injury risk, particularly on joints that limit your natural gait.
- Strengthening Exercises: Strength, particularly in the core and lower extremities, is crucial for normal gait. Our team identifies and addresses areas of weakness impacting your stride length and cadence, providing you with specific exercises to restore your functional gait.
- Gait Retraining: Our therapists teach proper movement techniques ranging from simple weight shifts to advanced foot placement cues with eyes gazing forward, even incorporating exaggerated movements to stimulate the nervous system and recalibrate overall functioning.
- Use of Assistive Devices: Depending on an individual’s stability, using assistive devices can enhance the safety and effectiveness of gait. The devices, arranged from most to least stable, include walkers, crutches, canes, and hiking sticks.
The long-term goal of any stroke rehabilitation plan is to improve physical function. Sometimes, individuals who sustain strokes will have to relearn basic skills, such as walking, dressing, writing, speaking, or eating. At PT Unlimited, our advanced methods and modalities are equipped to help you or your loved one relearn, recover, and reclaim life.
How Can I Get Started?
At PT Unlimited, we’ve helped many others recover from a stroke and can help you too. If you or a loved one recently suffered from a stroke, don’t hesitate to seek the proper rehabilitation. Connect with us today and take the first step towards a healthier, brighter tomorrow!