It is estimated that over 795,000 people in the United States will have a stroke each year. This means that across the USA, someone has a stroke every 40 seconds. Of these individuals, only one in four is a second or subsequent stroke, with the rest the first stroke the individual has experienced.
Healing After a Stroke
Most strokes, over 87%, are ischemic, which means the blood supply to the brain is blocked, resulting in the loss of muscle, nerve, and brain functioning. For many people, one side of their body is impacted by the stroke, while for a smaller number, the stroke affects both sides of the body, speech, and cognitive functioning.
Asheville physical therapy services will be essential in helping patients recover after a stroke. Most patients will use physical therapy for a few months or longer after the stroke to help them recover and regain body function.
There benefits of attending Asheville physical therapy for stroke recovery include:
- Improve brain and muscle functioning – many people must learn how to walk, talk, or move their arm or leg after a stroke. Through work with a physical therapist, patients can regain some or complete mobility and movement.
- Improve range of motion – working with a physical therapist helps stretch the muscles and alleviate the stiffness and pain associated with a stroke.
- Develop new movements – a physical therapist helps patients to learn new ways to move their body after the stroke to accommodate for the loss of mobility and range of motion.
- Faster recovery – staying active and re-learning how to move continues to build muscle mass and reduce muscle loss.
It is important to remember that patients continue to recover for a long time after a stroke. Early physical therapy is essential in starting the healing and recovery process.
