Strokes can cause damage to a part of the brain that controls personal movement.
This can cause weakness or paralysis on one side of the body and problems with moving and carrying out every day activities. The affected side of the body may feel different or heavy because the weakness make them difficult to move, or they may feel numb. Some people have more unusual sensations such as pins and needles, hot and cold sensations or feel as though water in running their limb.
It may cause problems with posture and balance, making it difficult to stay upright and you may be more likely to fall. Joints on the affected side, such as a shoulder, may be vulnerable to injury or alternatively muscles may become stiff which limits the movement of the joint.
After a stroke, brains cannot grow new cells to replace the ones that have been damaged, so the recovery depends on your brains ability to reorganise its undamaged cells and make up for what has been lost. Physiotherapy can provide expert guidance to help. Physiotherapy will involve an early assessment, active therapy and the support and encouragement to start moving again.
Tips for recovery:
- Practice the exercises that your therapist has set you.
- Keep to a routine of exercising at a regular time each day.
- Remember the more you do the better!
- Use a notebook to keep track of your progress and to also remind you what you need to do.
- Be patient with yourself!
- Start slowly and build up gradually.
- Try to keep to a sustainable weight.
- Try new activities to help you maintain or improve recover.
- Join an exercise group or stroke club to meet and be encouraged by other people.
