We’ll explain what’s important in stroke rehabilitation and how long it takes to recover after a stroke to recover quickly. Also, You can see what skills are expected to improve during stroke rehabilitation.

Stroke Recovery: How to recover after stroke quickly

Many stroke survivors question whether stroke recovery is possible. At the same
time, they want to know how they can recover quickly after a stroke. Although
stroke recovery looks different for everyone, there are still fundamental things
you should know for your faster stroke recovery.

In this post, we’ll explain what’s important in stroke rehabilitation and how
long it takes to recover after a stroke to recover quickly. Also, You can see
what skills are expected to improve during stroke rehabilitation.



Table of contents

 * What’s important to recover after a stroke?
 * What can a patient expect to see during stroke rehabilitation?
 * Stroke Therapy and Rehabilitation Activities
 * Stroke Recovery Timeline
 * Is it possible to stroke recovery at home?
 * Now, can I fully and quickly recover after a stroke?





 What's important to recover after a stroke?
Stroke recovery is different for every person. After someone survives after a
stroke, their recovery starts that day and can continue for several years. The
severity of the stroke impacts how a person’s recovery will go.

 1. Slow and Unpredictable
    Recovery after stroke [https://www.neofect.com/us/smart-glove] starts with
    making goals with your physical, social, and emotional aspects of your life.
    You will make changes to your life to prevent additional strokes along with
    focusing on life long recovery. Patients and caregivers will have to
    understand that the recovery is slow and unpredictable. No one can really
    map out how a person will truly recover from a stroke because the way our
    brain heals is so complex. Medical professionals such as doctors, nurses,
    and therapists can make only an educated guess of how a person will recover
    based on the location and severity of the stroke.
 2. Need Support from Family and Friends
    Support from family and friends is a huge component during the recovery
    process. They give the person a sense of belonging to the world and purpose
    to life they had prior to the stroke. Patients who are recovering from a
    stroke need to feel connected more than ever to help increase the motivation
    to push through the hardest moments of their rehabilitation process. Family
    involvement also allows for better education and training to happen so the
    patient can return home when medically appropriate. Doctors, nurses, and
    therapists can train the family/caregivers in how to best care for the
    patient so they can return to their home environment safely.
 3. Time and Intensity
    Stroke rehab [https://www.neofect.com/us/for-home] will help increase
    recovery allowing a person to get back to living a full life. Rehabilitation
    focuses on high intensity repetitions which drive the key term of
    neuroplasticity which doctors and therapists focus on. Through rehab you’ll
    focus on learning new skills or relearning old skills. The biggest skills
    that are important to relearn after a stroke are motor skill learning,
    mobility skills, cognitive training and activities of daily living.
    Occupational, Physical, and Speech therapists focus on intensity exercises
    that will set a person up for success in relearning these important skills.
    A patient will start experiencing stroke rehabilitation as soon as they
    become medically stable in the hospital to increase the recovery process.
    The biggest factors for people in the recovery process are time and
    intensity.

Does a brain really recover after a stroke?
You may have heard that the brain can be recovered after a stroke. Do you know
how it happens? It’s because of brain neuroplasticity
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/why-neuroplasticity-matters-to-post-stroke-rehabilitation/]
. Although it is impossible to fully reverse the damage, current research has
shown that the brain is capable of relearning lost skills even years after a
stroke.

The word Neuroplasticity
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/why-neuroplasticity-matters-to-post-stroke-rehabilitation/] 
is a fancy way of saying that the brain (neuro) can change (plasticity). After a
stroke, neuroplasticity can help the brain to work around the damaged areas in
order to regenerate, re-establish, and rearrange the neural connections related
to function.

In order to retrain the brain after a stroke, it is important to strengthen the
neural pathways that control all of these behaviors and movements by doing 
repetitive exercises
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-stroke-exercises]. The
more repetitive exercises and movements one does, the stronger the pathways in
the brain will become. This is called neuroplasticity
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/why-neuroplasticity-matters-to-post-stroke-rehabilitation/]
.


 What can a patient expect to see during stroke rehabilitation?
Every stroke is different and will affect people differently based on their
severity and which part of the brain that stroke affects. Here are some examples
of the common changes after stroke.


Weakness or paralysis to the one side of the body

The stroke may cause a weakness or paralysis on your body. You should focus on
regaining these weakened muscles, so you can get back to your daily activities
independently.

Cognitive Skills

The brain controls critical thinking, judgment, reasoning abilities, and
judgment, therefore, having a stroke on the left side of the brain can cause
someone to have varying levels of cognitive impairments.

It’s important to keep working to improve these cognitive skills because it’s
highly related to your safety. Occupational therapists or speech and language
therapists can help you regain these abilities.

Speech and Languages Skills

Since the brain controls language skills, many people who have suffered from a
left-sided stroke may have difficulties in speaking or understanding language.
And it is called Aphasia.

Speech and language therapists can help you learn how to speak coherently and
clearly. They may teach you other communication ways if your condition is
severe.

Sensory Skills

Stroke can affect a part of your body’s ability to feel sensory inputs. You may
have difficulties feeling the heat, cold, or pressure if your sensory ability is
damaged. Therapists can work with you to help your body adjust to the change.

Swallowing Difficulties

The left side of the brain controls all oral functions which include chewing and
swallowing. After a left-sided stroke one may have trouble chewing and
swallowing. One may be put on a feeding tube until they are able to relearn how
to swallow or chew. Therapists can work with you to help your swallowing ability
to regain.

Visual impairments

After having a stroke on the left side of the brain it is common for someone to
suffer from visual impairments in the right eye. It is common for someone to
lose half of their visual field in their right eye which is called hemianopia.
One may also present with neglect to the right side of the body which is called
visuospatial neglect.

The main goal of stroke rehabilitation is to improve or relearn these weakened
skills after suffering a stroke. You can be independent and back to your living
life by improving or restoring your weakened or lost skills.




 Stroke Therapy and Rhabilitation Activities
During the therapy process you can expect to see things involving physical and
technology-assisted physical activities.

Physical Activities
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-stroke-exercises] may
include but not limited to:

 * Motor-Skill Exercises that focus on improving muscle strength and
   conditioning. An example of this would be a speech therapist doing swallowing
   exercises to increase a patient's ability to eat.
 * Mobility Training that teaches a patient to relearn how to walk again along
   with learning to use mobility aids such as a cane, walker, wheelchair or
   ankle/knee braces. After having a stroke a patient may experience drop foot
   and need an ankle foot orthosis to help correct the deficit.
 * Constraint-Induced Therapy which takes the unaffected limb and restrains it
   while you practice functional movements with your affected limb. This type of
   therapy helps force a patient to use their affected limb instead of
   forgetting about it.
 * Range of Motion Therapy provides exercises and treatments to help address
   increase muscle tone and spasticity to increase functional range of motion.
   Examples that patients may see are hemi slides for the upper extremity using
   a towel/sheet on a table top.




Technology-Assisted Therapy include but not limited to:

 * Functional Electrical Stimulation can help stimulate weak muscles to promote
   a contraction which will help with muscle re-education.
 * Robotic Technology will help impaired limbs perform repetitive motions
   helping increase muscle re-education for functional gains.
 * Wireless Technology helps monitor post stroke activity to allow a patient to
   see the functional movement they have.
 * Virtual Reality Technology uses video games and other computer based
   activities that allow patients to interact with simulated or real time
   activities within their environment.


 Stroke Recovery Timeline
 1. Within 3 hours
    If you suffer a stroke, it is very important to receive medical attention as
    soon as you exhibit any warning signs as each second is crucial for
    survival. Stroke is a severe medical emergency and if a person does not
    receive medical attention right away they are at greater risk for permanent
    brain damage or death.
    Tissue Plasminogen Activator(tPA) can help decrease the amount of damage
    done after sustaining a stroke but can only be administered within 3 hours
    of showing warning signs. Therefore it is very important to get help as
    quickly as you can in order to allow for the most successful recovery!
    
 2. First Few Weeks After a Stroke
    The typical length of a hospital stay after a stroke is five to seven days.
    During this time, the stroke care team will evaluate the effects of the
    stroke, which will determine the rehabilitation plan.
    The first five to six weeks of stroke recovery are the most intensive.
    Intense physical and occupational therapy will be recommended five or six
    days per week. During this time patients will go through inpatient or
    outpatient therapy, contingent on their condition and accessibility to a
    rehabilitation center. There may also be more options like receiving in-home
    physical and occupational therapy treatment.
    
 3. Three Months
    According to the Johns Hopkins stroke rehabilitation specialist April Pruski
    , The first three months of recovery are when a patient will see the most
    improvement, and gains may happen rapidly over time.  During this time, most
    patients will enter and complete an inpatient rehab program and improve
    their abilities through outpatient therapy sessions.
    
 4. Six Months
    It’s still important to do continuous and repetitive stroke rehabilitation
    within 6 months although the stroke survivor’s skill and ability is not
    fully recovered in 3 months. A stroke survivor’s ability to improve during
    this period relies on their individual effort and the support of their
    friends, family, and doctors. A coordinated effort among specialists can
    facilitate further progress months and years down the line. While
    improvement may take longer for some patients, there’s still hope for small
    advances.Two Years
    Some stroke survivors who have Aphasia after suffering a stroke can take up
    to two years to fully regain their speaking ability.  (25 to 40 percent)
    

 Is it possible to stroke recovery at home?
Now, you may wonder if you can do your stroke recovery at home. Because there
are some restrictions like time or money to start every therapies and exercises
for your faster stroke recovery.

You’ll probably start your stroke rehabilitation in the hospital, but you
already know that stroke recovery is a long-term journey. So you should find
another option for your better living life. And it would be great if you can
start your stroke recovery at home.

Here are some options you can choose before you leave the hospital to determine
the best rehabilitation setting. The options include:

 1. Outpatient units. Some of the hospitals or clinics offer a stroke rehab
    outpatient program. You may spend a few hours at the facility a couple of
    days a week for your stroke recovery.
 2. Skilled nursing facilities. You may want to stay at nursing facilities for
    intense therapy options. But please check out if the facility specializes in
    stroke rehabilitation before you select.
 3. Stroke Recovery at-home programs. Doing your stroke recovery at home makes
    your living life with greater flexibility than other options. You can be
    stable in your home and do your rehab repetitively without any place
    movements. Some home-based therapy spends less than outpatients units or
    skilled nursing facilities.

The rehabilitation after a stroke begins after doctor’s assessment and
treatments in patient’s conditions. You should choose which options fits to
their condition and design the stroke rehab journey to help the survivor reclaim
their independence and return their previous daily life as soon as possible.

 Now, can I fully and quickly recover after a stroke?
According to the National Stroke Association, 10 percent of people who have a
stroke recover almost completely, with 25 percent recovering with minor
impairments. Another 40 percent experience moderate to severe impairments that
require special care. And 10 percent require long-term care in a nursing home or
other facility. This means that there are differences based on their severity
and treatment. But you can make your stroke recovery faster and as much as
possible. As you saw, there is a concept called neuroplasticity
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/why-neuroplasticity-matters-to-post-stroke-rehabilitation/]
!

These are just a few things a patient may experience during their rehabilitation
process. The best advice for a person who has survived a stroke is to seek high
intensity therapy as quickly as possible. This will increase the chances of
living life to the fullest. As you come to understand the best options for you
or a loved one’s rehab journey, don’t miss the opportunity to check out Neofect
[https://www.neofect.com/us/] Home Rehab Solutions. Neofect Home Rehab products
[https://shop.neofect.com/] are clinically proven to improve hand and arm
functionality at home with fun and engaging activities.

To learn more, (888) 623-8984 or email us at info@neofect.com

Stroke Recovery

Many stroke survivors experience numbness in their limbs making it hard to be functional with their affected limbs.  Luckily, stroke survivors have the ability to overcome the numbness.

Are There Treatments For Numbness After a Stroke?



Many stroke survivors experience numbness in their affected limbs. This numbness
feels very similar to the pins and needles one feels when their arm or leg falls
asleep. When ones hand or leg is asleep it is very hard to function and that
limb can sometimes experience pain. This makes it very hard for stroke survivors
to be functional with their affected limbs. Luckily, stroke survivors have the
ability to overcome the numbness.

What causes numbness after a stroke?
Stroke survivors
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/stroke-recovery-stories-stroke-survivor-annie-stroke-physical-therapy] 
experience numbness secondary to damaged brain cells. When brain cells are
damaged after a stroke that area of the brain now has a hard time communicating
with the nerves as well as with the cells that control motor functions.

When brain cells are damaged, they tend to have a hard time processing sensory
receptors which leads to a feeling of numbness in one’s affected limb.

How can stroke survivors overcome numbness?
In order to overcome numbness it is important to retrain the brain by utilizing
the theory of neuroplasticity
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/how-the-neofect-smart-glove-stroke-rehab-device-aids-stroke-recovery]
. The principles behind neuroplasticity states that in order for the brain to
rewire itself it requires repetitive exercises to be done in order to build new
pathways. Therefore, it is important to start working with an occupational
therapist, a physical therapist, and, if needed, a speech therapist as soon as
the doctors deem you stable and fit for therapy.



One of the most effective ways to fix sensory issues after stroke is with
sensory reeducation. Sensory reeducation is a way to rewire the brain and
retrain the sensory pathways. There are many different sensory reeducation
exercises such as having a caregiver tell you to close your eyes. The caregiver
will tap your affected arm and then ask you where you felt the tap. If you get
it wrong they will show you where they tapped to aid in retraining the brain.
Another example would be filling a bucket with uncooked rice and placing
different items in the rice such as a marble, a toy car, a pen, a penny or a
paper clip and try to figure out what the object is without looking. It is
important to make sure you are doing exercises like this often!

If you or a loved one are having a hard time differentiating between hot and
cold an exercise you can do would be taking a cold wash cloth and placing it
over your affected limb and recognizing what that feels like. After a minute,
take a warm wash cloth and place it over your affected limb and take note of
what it feels like. Keep repeating this exercises until you eventually learn the
difference between what cold and warm feels like.

Can functional electrical stimulation help decrease numbness after a stroke?
Functional electrical stimulation delivers a shock to your muscle which will in
turn activate your nerves. There currently is not much research on if functional
electrical stimulation works to decrease numbness after a stroke, however, there
are many therapists who incorporate functional electrical stimulation
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/can-e-stim-help-jumpstart-outpatient-stroke-rehabilitation] 
to their practices as it has demonstrated good results with their patients.



Can mirror therapy help decrease numbness after a stroke?
Mirror box therapy has been shown to help address numbness in stroke survivors.
Mirror box therapy is conducted with a mirror box that obscures the patient’s
affected arm. The patient will proceed to perform repetitive movements with
their unaffected limb while watching their reflection in the mirror. By doing
these exercises in the mirror
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/stroke-exercises-using-mirror-therapy-and-mirror-neurons] 
it will give their brain the impression that they are moving their affected
limb. Over time it will help rewire the brain and decrease numbness in the
affected limb.



How does numbness affect everyday safety?
Numbness can affect a patient’s everyday life as well as his or her safety. For
example, if someone is affected by numbness they may not notice if their clothes
or shoes are on too tightly, which can cause skin breakdown and wounds. Another
example is if an affected patient is in the kitchen and not paying attention to
their affected limb, they may brush against the stove top and burn their hand.
Therefore, it is very important to work with your therapist to address numbness
and pay extra attention to your surroundings at all times to prevent injuries to
your affected limb.

How long with the numbness last?
Everyone heals at different rates and there are many factors that play a role in
the healing process. Many people who started stroke therapy early on and
performed sensory reduction exercises regularly found that their numbness
started to decrease after a couple of months. However, everyone recovers at
different rates and it is never too late to make gains!

If you have had a stroke and are looking for an effective solution for your
stroke rehab [https://www.neofect.com/us/for-home] needs, please look into 
Neofect [https://www.neofect.com/us/]'s line of Smart Rehabilitation Solutions.


--
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[https://shop.neofect.com/], a biofeedback training device.

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brain to improve the use of your affected side.

Call us (888) 623-8984 [tel:+18886238984] or email us at info@neofect.com to 
start your smart rehab with the Neofect today.

numbness after stroke treatment

With the abundance of stroke-related research, it’s important to remember that every stroke, just like every person, is different! Here are some examples.

Exercises for each stage of Stroke recovery

We understand that recovering after a stroke can be a confusing journey. Often,
it is helpful for people that have suffered a stroke and their caregivers to
have an idea about what to expect. With the abundance of stroke-related
research, it’s important to remember that every stroke, just like every person,
is different! For example, pre-existing conditions, complications and unexpected
side effects can affect how a person moves through a typical recovery timeline.
Below we list the typical steps in a stroke recovery timeline:

Acute care
Acute care is the time immediately after a stroke, typically within the first 7
days. During this time, internal systems, such as breathing and heart rates, are
stabilized by medical professionals to try to prevent a recurrence.
Rehab exercises and protocols are usually not done at this time unless cleared
by the physician. A therapist may visit and help change positions to reduce
joint stiffness, swelling and pressure sores.



Acute rehabilitation
Acute care is the time immediately after a stroke, typically within the first 7
days. During this time, internal systems, such as breathing and heart rates, are
stabilized by medical professionals to try to prevent a recurrence.
Rehab exercises and protocols are usually not done at this time unless cleared
by the physician. A therapist may visit and help change positions to reduce
joint stiffness, swelling and pressure sores.



Exercises during this period may focus on:

 * Self-care training: Self-care training focuses on adapting to perform
   everyday tasks, such as dressing and eating.
 * Mobility training: Mobility training focuses on learning to use a cane or
   walker, if needed.
 * Functional electrical stimulation: Electrical stimulation is used to help
   jump-start muscles that need a nudge to perform functional activities, like
   holding a spoon or turning a door knob.
 * Daily exercise routines: Daily exercise routines are important to see
   results. This is because the consistency in performing tasks helps create the
   repetition that is required to continue progressing.

Long term rehabilitation
At this point 1 year post-stroke, most people have returned home or to a long
term care facility.
Although most motor and functional recovery happens in the first 3 months, there
is evidence that therapy is helpful throughout a person’s lifetime. For this
reason, it’s important to never give up, neuroplasticity never expires!

Here are options to continue rehab at home:

 * Virtual reality: New technology is available which takes advantage of the
   brain’s ability to rewire itself. To learn more, check out the fun and
   engaging Neofect Smart Rehab products [http://home.neofect.com].
 * Wearable devices: Devices Maintain the gains you have achieved through
   monitoring continued exercise with a wearable fitness device.
 * Robotic assistance- impaired limbs sometimes need a little extra help. Check
   out the Neofect NeoMano [https://igg.me/at/neomano/] to find out about
   assistive grip technology.



To learn more about Neofect smart rehab devices, call (888) 623-8984
[tel:+18886238984] or email info@neofect.com.