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...

With a vision and goal to help people regain their independence- ApoKOS is a joint venture between Apollo, Asia’s largest medical caregiver and KOS group from Italy. KOS group emphasizes on social health and an advanced support system in healthcare. Equipped with their experience in caregiving and providing support, ApoKos nurtures the patients and helps them in regaining normalcy. ApoKOS ensures quality care to their patients and provides the patient with proper rehabilitation facilities. With a vision to provide post-surgery care and rehabilitation services, and a nurturing hand, ApoKOS is redefining standards of world-class rehabilitation care. At ApoKOS we offer numerous programs and cover a wide range of health rehabilitation specialities. Our programs are comprehensive and wholesome, they are: - Neurological Rehabilitation - Cardiac Rehabilitation - Orthopaedic Rehabilitation - Pediatric Rehabilitation - Geriatric Rehabilitation All of these programs are accompanied by intensive therapy which helps the patient to become fully functional. ApoKOS provides a trustworthy, supportive and an empowering environment which helps these patients believe in themselves and to recover at a faster rate. With a wide range of therapies and cutting-edge technology here are a few therapies we provide: - Rehab Therapy: This therapy is also known as physiotherapy....

A spinal cord injury is a life-altering event that can bring about a great deal of change to your very mode of existence. Such an injury leaves the patient paralyzed, partly or fully – depending on its intensity, physically disabled and unable to do perform even the simple tasks that require the use of limbs. Although it is vital to go through medication and post hospitalization rehabilitation processes to attain the maximum possible recovery, one must make sure to be cautious of the regular life activities after returning home. A patient, after encountering a spinal cord injury, still has a long way to go in terms of complete recovery because of the loss of balance, neurotic senses, dysfunctional limbs, and mental stress. The health and lifestyle tips to follow are: Regular Exercise: After recovering from a spinal cord injury, it is vital to maintaining proper bone health. Daily stretching and walking exercises are required to help the patient reduce pain and discomfort that persists for a short period of time even after medical intervention assures discharge from the care center. This will help the patient regain strength in their limbs, regain the ability to perform simple regular activities, and gradually...

Spinal cord injury can be categorized into various degrees, depending on the intensity of the affliction. It can be caused by mishaps such as a sudden fall, vehicle accidents, sports injuries, diseases like polio and spina bifida. However, an injury so sensitive must not be left unattended or delayed. Immediate hospitalization is certainly necessary to recover as soon as possible. Also, post-hospitalization treatments are important to help the patient regain as much independence possible. There are two main degrees to which one can injure their spine: Complete spinal cord injury This kind of an injury leaves the spinal cord completely severed, resulting in a halt to all functional capabilities. Such an injury may even lead to a state of paralysis. Incomplete spinal cord injury This form of injury results in the spinal cord being partially severed. The injured person is, however, able to retain some of their functional abilities. There are three major types of incomplete spinal cord injury Anterior Cord Syndrome – Injury to the front area of the spinal cord. Central Cord Syndrome – Injury to the central area of the spinal cord. Brown Sequard Syndrome – Injury to one whole side of the spinal cord. Depending on...

Stroke is a situation that, contrary to popular belief, can be recovered from with the help of appropriate medical treatment and post-medical rehabilitation programmes. Taking care of stroke patients and catering to their requirements entail a long-term commitment. As a caregiver for stroke survivors, you must be cautious while dealing with the patients by keeping in mind some of the most important tips of caregiving. Educate yourself on the topic of stroke: Learn about the disease from experts and doctors. It is important to know your subject matter while dealing with a survivor so that care is provided as required. Take part in the rehabilitation programmes: Post-medical rehabilitation plays a vital role on the road to recovery. Be present and to understand more about stroke and the ways of dealing with the survivor. Know about the risk factors for a relapse: Make sure that you know the risk factors and precautions of the already suffered and survived attack. Seek outside help and support if required: It is not possible for one to look after everything and at the same time make sure that things are perfectly in place. There are a number of services available like, adult day care and night care, and special...