Stroke Rehabilitation
After a stroke, there can be difficulty with daily functions including walking, fine motor skills, memory, and speech. At Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy, we provide services to help you regain strength, mobility, and independence after a stroke.
What Are Strokes?
Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is blocked or interrupted, depriving brain cells of nutrients and oxygen. There are three kinds of strokes that can happen:
- Ischemic Stroke – This kind makes up 87% of strokes; caused by a clot blocking blood flow to the brain
- Hemorrhagic Stroke – Caused by bleeding in the brain from a burst blood vessel
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) – Also known as a “mini-stroke”; when blood flow is blocked but resolves within 24 hours; a warning sign of a future stroke
Not only are strokes scary and concerning for those experiencing them, but they can also lead to severe side effects that are sometimes permanent. Common side effects of strokes are:
- Paralysis or Weakness
- Difficulty With Movement & Motor Skills
- Muscle Spasms & Stiffness
- Fatigue & Chronic Pain
- Thinking & Memory Difficulties
- Speech & Communication Challenges
- Vision Loss
- Numbness or Loss of Sensation
- Increased Risk of Future Strokes
Although there can be difficulty in recovery, at Wasatch Peak, we provide professional stroke rehabilitation to help reduce side effects and give you a better life.
- Physical & Functional Rehabilitation
A stroke can cause weakness and physical difficulties in the body. As part of our stroke rehabilitation, we can help provide assistance to regain strength and ability. Some of the services we may include as part of your rehabilitation are:
- Gait Training
- Strength Exercises
- Balance & Coordination Training
- Task-Specific Exercises (like standing, reaching, or gripping)
- Improving Cardiovascular Endurance
Since strokes happen because of blocked arteries or burst blood vessels, it’s important to gain back your cardiovascular strength to help prevent further strokes. Through continued practices like aerobic exercises, repetitive daily exercises and movements, and stretching, we can work with you on building back your strength. Exercises include:
- Low-Impact Cardio
- Seated or Standing Exercises
- Aquatic Therapy
- Short Bursts of Activity
- Leg, Core, & Upper Body Strengthening
With personalized training in stroke rehabilitation, our physical therapists are able to help you reestablish stamina and endurance for your cardiovascular system.
- Assistive Technology & Devices
After a stroke, it may be required to use adaptive equipment and assistive devices to improve mobility and daily function. Some common tools include:
- Wheelchairs
- Walkers & Canes
- Modified Utensils
- Voice-Assisted Technology
- Grab Bars
As a part of physical therapy for stroke rehabilitation, our physical therapists may help our patients learn how to use and practice using certain technology. Mobility support can help restore function, ability, and normalcy in daily life.
- Promoting Independence
After a stroke, it can be easy for people to feel helpless and frustrated since daily tasks and motor skills increase in difficulty. We work closely and individually with our patients to help them gain back a level of independence.
Our physical therapists at Wasatch Peak will work with you on strength and mobility exercises for daily activities and tasks, like reaching, standing, walking up stairs, or dressing. Some may be worked on at our facilities and others are encouraged to be practiced at home to provide the best recovery.
Stroke Rehabilitation with Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy
At Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy, we provide a wide variety of physical therapy services to ensure the fastest recovery. With four different locations across Davis and Weber county in Utah, we make it convenient for you to get the help you need. Our professional staff, advanced technology, and wide variety of specialties ensures you get individualized care and recovery.
If you are looking for physical therapy for stroke rehabilitation, let us at Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy help you in your recovery process.