Life After a Stroke

Every year, about 750,000 Americans have a stroke that affects their mental, physical, and psychological functioning.

About 80 percent of people who have a stroke can benefit from some form of rehabilitation.

Goal is independence

Stroke rehab “can help people regain as much independence as possible and achieve the best quality of life,” says Richard Zorowitz, M.D., a rehab specialist in Baltimore and a spokesman for the National Stroke Association.

The goal of rehab is to help a person relearn skills lost when stroke damages part of the brain. Rehab can include physical and occupational therapy. It can include exercises to help the person control movements and relearn how to walk, eat, and speak. Rehab can take place at an inpatient or outpatient unit, a nursing facility, or at home.

Different aspects of rehab

Stroke rehab may include some or all of the following:

• Speech or communication therapy. After a stroke, many people have problems speaking, listening, writing, or comprehending speech.

• Motor skill training. Muscle weakness after a stroke is common. Therapists can help improve strength and function.

• Mobility training. More than half of stroke survivors have difficulty walking. Therapy often includes the use of braces, walkers, or canes.

• Range-of-motion therapy. Some people have cramped or contracted muscles after stroke. Physical and occupational therapy can help the person regain range of motion.

• Electrical stimulation. The use of electricity to stimulate weakened muscles can help with muscle reeducation.

• Psychological therapy. Depression is common after stroke. Antidepressant medications, counseling, and participation in support groups can help.

“The degree of recovery varies widely from person to person, depending on the amount of damage the stroke caused and to which part of the brain,” Dr. Zorowitz says.

A caregiver can help a stroke patient best by meeting him or her halfway. They can allow the person to do as much as he or she can before stepping in to complete tasks.

A person who's had a stroke should make independence the goal, Dr. Zorowitz says. “The only way he or she can learn to do the tasks of daily living is to try to do them,” he says. “Recovering from a stroke can be difficult. However, daily practice and a strong motivation are half the battle and are the keys to recovery.”