A stroke is the sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood flow of an artery to the brain. After a stroke life for a patient becomes very complex. Life after stroke comes with its own set of complexities. They have long-term difficulties with walking, getting out of a chair, climbing stairs. To deal with life after stroke, the patient is usually prescribed physical therapy. However, stroke physiotherapy must begin as early as possible. Based on many studies, patients who began stroke physiotherapy right after a short time of their stroke recovered faster and got back to their independent life sooner. The goal of post-stroke physiotherapy is to lead life on one’s own terms. So, how is life after stroke with physiotherapy? Let’s find out. Usually, a rehabilitation facility will assess the patient’s condition and then schedule a customised program for rehabilitation. Stroke physiotherapy differs for each patient. Usually, life after stroke with physiotherapy means to relearn old skills. A stroke physiotherapy program may not be able to totally reverse the effects of your stroke, but it can help you regain your independence and recover some of what was lost. A stroke can...

Physiotherapy rehabilitation, also known as physical therapy or physical rehabilitation, is a scientific approach to treating diseases, injuries and deformities through physical treatments such as heat treatments, targeted exercises, counselling and other medicated therapies. This form of treatment is becoming more and more popular as, unlike drugs or surgery, it bears no adverse impact on your body. In fact, physiotherapy rehabilitation is recommended for patients recovering from joint pains, traumas and intensive surgeries to help them attain complete recovery. Physiotherapy rehabilitation can be availed by people of all age groups. It is effective in pain management, recovering faster from injuries and surgeries and help cope better with long-term conditions like COPD. It also plays a crucial role in preparing for physically strenuous activities like childbirth or running a marathon. It’s practiced by a trained physiotherapist who works closely with patients in understanding their chief complaints and accordingly come up with a rehabilitation plan that caters to their needs in the most effective way possible. Based on the patient’s past medical history and present physical condition, a physiotherapist can design customised physical rehabilitation plan for the individual to help them regain complete physical functionality. Physiotherapy rehabilitation may involve hands-on treatments by...

Advancement in medical sciences has opened new doors in the field of surgery, wherein critical ailments that, back in time bore fatal consequences, can be resolved today through intricate surgical techniques. Despite surgical remedies gaining prominence among medical practitioners, it continues to remain in the heart and minds of patients as a perilous approach in treating their respective conditions. While surgeries do carry that extra risk of things going downhill, with an able surgeon presiding the task and deft post-operative care, it is possible to maximize the benefits of surgeries in helping patients recover from several critical diseases. Post-operative care is an important part of any surgery, and it’s advisable to plan on your post-operative rehabilitation before going into the surgery. It is recommended that you consult your doctor and physiotherapist to understand what your life after surgery will look like, so that you are both mentally and physically prepared for the road ahead. The recovery process post-surgery could look different for different individuals, and hence, consulting a rehabilitation professional to establish a proper post-operative care plan will help you recover faster. Major surgeries like total knee replacement, total hip replacement and brain surgeries leave patients with limited physical and...

Traumatic brain injury also called brain injury or head injury occurs when a blow or jolt to the head results in damage to the brain. TBIs range in severity from mild to severe. While medication and post-hospitalization rehabilitation are vital to ensure the maximum possible recovery of patients affected by TBI, safety guidelines are equally important to avoid further injury. You must keep in mind that once you’ve faced injury in the brain, you have to be doubly careful as the brain is one of the most delicate parts of your body. The regular safety measures to be followed are: Always wear a helmet while riding: Make sure that you wear well-padded helmets whenever you ride pillion. Two-wheelers are at a greater risk of skidding and falling. Fatal falls might result in a blow to your skull and lead to traumatic brain injuries. A helmet will protect you from these unnecessary injuries and a relapse of neurological conditions resulting from TBI. Wear a seatbelt while sitting in the car: A seatbelt keeps you secure inside the car, should a situation of collision arise, especially if you are sitting in the front seat. Even minor blows to your head at this...

A tracheostomy is a surgically created opening in the neck leading directly to the trachea. It involves creating an opening in the neck in order to place a tube into a person’s windpipe. The tube is inserted through a cut in the neck below the vocal cords. This allows air to enter the lungs which help to create a bypass in the airway to help the patient breathe easy. When a patient is under tracheostomy care, speech will be difficult until the time comes for a special tube to be placed which may allow talking by allowing the flow of air up to the vocal cords. When there is a prolonged requirement of tracheostomy treatment, speech and swallow therapy is a requirement for these patients. Due to prolonged tracheostomy care, there may be a few complications a patient might face such as: Infection Bleeding Airway obstruction Scarring of the airway Damage to the larynx (voice box) Impaired swallowing and vocal function Burns of the airway from inhalation of corrosive material Cancer in the neck Severe neck or mouth injuries Tumours A lot of these complications might cause the patient to rely on speech therapy for tracheostomy. What is Swallow therapy?...

Spinal cord injuries are of many degrees and can have extremely adverse effects on the body. They result in different types of post-injury conditions. There are mainly two degrees of spinal cord injury: Incomplete spinal cord injury: This form of an injury results in the spinal cord being partially severed. The injured person is, however, able to retain some functional abilities. There are three major types of incomplete spinal cord injury: Anterior Cord Syndrome – Injury to the front portion of the spinal cord. Central Cord Syndrome – Injury to the central part of the spinal cord. Brown-Sequard Syndrome – Injury to one whole side of the spinal cord. Complete spinal cord injury: In this case, the spinal cord is completely severed, resulting in a halt to every kind of functional capability. This kind of spinal cord injury may even lead to a state of paralysis. Injury can occur to any part of the spinal cord. Depending on the gravity of the injury, appropriate treatment processes must be conducted without delay. The major categories of spinal cord injury are: Paraplegia: This is also known as Hemiplegia. Paraplegia is a condition in which there is an impairment of sensory and motor...

Parkinson’s is a chronic and progressive neurological disease that affects nerve cells in the area of the brain which produces dopamine, a chemical which transmits signals between areas of the brain. When functioning smoothly they help in coordinating balanced muscle movement. This disease, however, causes neurons to die, leading to a reduction of dopamine in the brain. The basal ganglia are responsible for organizing movement commands from other parts of the brain and this is where the lack of dopamine causes the symptoms of Parkinson’s to occur. What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s? The symptoms of Parkinson’s are varied such as: Tremors Shaking of hand and foot Slow movement Stiffness of limbs Pain Balance and coordination problems Constipation Midlife Obesity Decreased facial expressions Speech changes Sleeping problems Parkinson’s disease diagnosis: While symptoms can be different for each patient, over 25% of patients are misdiagnosed when it comes to Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s disease diagnosis is difficult. Currently, there are no blood or laboratory tests available to help in Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. A CT and MRI will be used to rule out other disorders that cause similar symptoms. A detailed neurologic history will be taken. This interrogation will include questions about the patient’s symptoms, medications, and...

Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that is usually performed when the patient’s airway is obstructed or swollen and it becomes difficult for them to breathe. So, what exactly is a tracheostomy? An opening is made on the neck, through an incision, to gain access to the trachea. This surgical procedure allows direct access to the breathing tube and is commonly done in an operating room under general anesthesia. A tracheostomy may be permanent or temporary depending on a patient’s condition. It can be done in case of an emergency at the patient’s bedside or in an operating room. Most people need 1 to 3 days to adapt to breathing through a tracheostomy tube. It will take some time to learn how to communicate with others. When is tracheostomy considered? Here are a few reasons where a tracheostomy may be necessary: Obstruction in mouth or throat Swelling in trachea Difficulty in breathing Lung conditions Airway reconstruction after a tracheal surgery Impaired swallowing and vocal function Airway protection after a spinal or a head injury Long-term life support How is the tracheostomy tube inserted? It is a small tube inserted into the trachea to keep the stoma open. It is available in...

It is a common misconception that the hard part is over after a successful surgery. Not everyone is aware of the situation after the surgery. Post-surgery, the recovery process can be very demanding and grueling too. The idea that a patient may need rehabilitation post hospitalization and surgery may be very unfamiliar to some people. The concept of rehabilitation is quite unfathomable to a lot of the general masses. There is a lack of awareness on how essential rehabilitation is after post-hospitalization or surgery. After surgery or a trauma, when your mind tells you that it is time to return to your old routine, your body might not be ready to take on the pressure. It is very likely that you may need rehab to regain your strength. Why you need rehabilitation? Rehabilitation is required to help the body cope and recover post-surgery. Since surgery is a life-changing experience rehabilitation can be used to help you adapt to the change. Rehabilitation enables you to re-learn basic skills, for example, dressing up, walking, talking, and so on. And over a period of time, you will be able to attain normalcy. Though through rehabilitation you will be able to strengthen your body,...

A stroke can be a life changing event, leaving patients bed-ridden, physically and mentally disabled. The treatment for stroke is more effective if the patient is admitted to the hospital immediately, without any delay. Hospitalisation and medical treatment alone are not sufficient for the patient to get back to normal. A rehabilitation programme is necessary for helping them regain their independence and become more functional. The most common outcomes of a stroke are slurred speech and difficulty in chewing or swallowing. Hence, a speech and swallow therapy is required to bring back the patient to normalcy. Speech and Swallow Therapy – What does it involve? A speech and swallow therapy is conducted on a patient who is not unable to communicate and consume food on their own. This programme is conducted regularly, to attain the best possible results. The processes involved in this therapy are: Cognitive training: This focuses on the receptiveness of the patient, which is the ability to understand the words of others trying to communicate with the patient. Cognitive training helps the patient resume communication with others effectively as they gain an understanding of the latter’s verbal as well as non-verbal speech. Language therapy: This is commonly...