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

Part three of the Stroke Lingo blog series reviews clinical words commonly used to describe post-stroke muscle changes including muscle tone, spasticity, and contracture.

Muscle Function Changes After Stroke

If you or your loved one has experienced a stroke, one of the first things your
therapists will look into is your overall muscle tone. By taking a close look at
what your muscles are able to do and what they struggle with, the therapists can
put together a plan of action to help you with strengthening, improving
coordination, and working toward your functional goals. In part 3 of our “Stroke
Lingo” series, let’s talk about words that have to do with muscle tone
dysfunction after a stroke.

Muscle Function Changes After Stroke
Muscle tone: the amount of tension a muscle has at rest. There is a delicate and
complex balance at play with muscle tone, which allows muscles to be flexible
enough to move through space, but firm enough to hold the body steady against
the effects of gravity. “Normal” muscle tone is what helps you to maintain your
posture, and it will generally relax while you are asleep to allow your body to
get comfortable and rest. When a person has “normal” muscle tone, there is a
continual partial amount of tension that allows muscles to react quickly and
smoothly whenever they are needed to make joints move.

An example of how normal muscle tone may affect you while you participate in a
functional task: when you are riding a bike, there is enough tone in your
muscles to keep your body seated upright, and there is enough flexibility to
allow smooth, coordinated movements of the legs and feet to cycle with the
pedals.



Hypertonicity: a high amount of muscle tone, and therefore increased tension and
resistance when the muscle is passively stretched. If you are experiencing
hypertonicity, your stroke may have damaged a part of your brain that controls
the signal from your brain to your muscles. This signal is now firing on
overdrive, causing tension and tightness. It’s as if the muscles just can’t
relax. Sometimes this tension will force the affected arm to pull in and flex
toward the body, making it difficult to move or straighten out. Hypertonicity
limits a joint’s ability to move. It is usually somewhat (or very) difficult to
try to stretch out the joints, and often another person has to help complete
stretches on a daily basis to try to keep at least some flexibility. As you can
imagine, this is totally exhausting, and makes function very difficult.


A hypertonic right arm might rest tightly against the body despite intent to
relax the limb.

Hypertonicity may affect you after your stroke diagnosis, but it is not always
clear exactly when. Some begin to experience it right away, while others notice
their muscles becoming tighter and more difficult to move weeks or months down
the road.

An example of how hypertonicity may affect you while you participate in a
functional task: when you are trying to apply deodorant, you need someone else
to help pull your arm away from your side because of the high amount of tension
pulling your joints closer together and flexing your arm toward your body.

Spasticity: A particular type of hypertonicity, which causes muscles to stiffen
as a reaction to being stretched quickly. Though many people use the word
“spasticity” as a general term to describe anyone with noticeably stiff muscles
following a stroke or brain injury, it actually more specifically refers to
tightness that happens when a quick stretch is applied to the muscle. When you
have spasticity, the tightness can worsen with quicker movements. Spastic
muscles often also need a good amount of [slow] stretching before you engage in
a particular task, so that they have time to lengthen and become flexible
enough. Spasticity is affected by both the sensory and motor parts of the brain
that control your movement. It is considered “overactivity of the stretch
reflex.”

You may have hypertonicity in your muscles without actually having spasticity!

An example of how spasticity may affect you while you perform a functional task:
when you try to quickly open up your fingers from a fisted position in order to
place your hand around your coffee cup, your fingers react to being moved
quickly and tense up even more, forming a tighter fist position.

Contracture: a type of joint deformity related to prolonged tightness that keeps
the joint positioned a specific way for a long time. After an extended time
working on overdrive from hypertonicity, the muscle tissues can become shortened
and hardened. This makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to move the
joints around anymore. If you are experiencing contracture, the joints that are
affected are more or less “frozen” in place.

Hypotonicity- a low amount of muscle tone. This is often noted after stroke,
when muscles become completely or partially paralyzed. The muscles may no longer
feel like they have much or any resistance to being stretched and moved around.
Though hypotonia doesn’t automatically mean “weak,” weakness and hypotonia can
often go hand in hand.


A hypotonic right arm might hang limply at one's side despite attempts to move
or reposition the limb.

After a stroke, you may experience a range of levels of “tone”, and your tone
may change along your journey. If you have had a stroke that impacts your
muscles in one of the ways listed above, you may need the help of a therapist to
guide you with best practices to manage the symptoms and work toward using your
arm (and/or leg!) more functionally. There are many types of strategies to
include various modalities, stretches, exercises, and functional task training
that can all help with improved use of the limb and more protected joints. Check
in with your therapist for suggestions tailored to your specific needs!

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not
intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health
provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you
think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or your doctor immediately.
Reliance on any information provided by the NEOFECT website is solely at your
own risk.

References:

American Stroke Association: www.stroke.org

Bhimani, R, and Anderson, L. Clinical understanding of spasticity: Implications
for practice. Rehabilitation Research and Practice, 2014: 279175 doi:
10.1155/2014/279175

Stroke Foundation: www.strokefoundation.org.au

Spasticity after stroke

Stroke Lingo Part 3: Muscle Function Changes After Stroke

Where do I begin setting my personal goals? How do I stick to my personal goals? Read on to learn how to be successful in your stroke recovery goals.

Setting Personal Goals After Stroke

Goal-setting becomes the name of the game for stroke survivors as they
transition from the hospital back into their homes and communities. During this
time, healthcare professionals often encourage personal goal-setting to promote
confidence and independence. However, the thought of making and meeting goals
while adjusting to life after stroke might feel more overwhelming than
productive.



Where do I begin when setting goals?
The SMART framework is a great place to start. SMART is an acronym including the
following components of an effective goal:

Specific: State exactly what you aim to improve. Phrase goals in terms of what
you will do, not just what you want to do.

Measurable: Include the way you will measure your progress. Are you measuring
your outcome in terms of time spent (number of hours, sessions. completed) or a
different metric (pounds lost, calories burned, dollars saved)?

Achievable: Ensure that the goal is feasible within your current capabilities.
If it is not, how can the goal be modified or what resources can you attain to
make things possible?

Relevant: You are more likely to meet your goals when they align with your
long-term vision for yourself and your overall plans.

Timely: Set an end date. When will you achieve this goal? When will you know to
reevaluate if things are not working?

A regular goal:

> I am going to get healthy by exercising and eating better.


A SMART goal:

> I am going to lower my blood pressure by 5 points by walking daily and
eliminating added salt from my diet. I will achieve this over six months.


Do I have to use SMART goals?
Critics of the SMART system note that it is harder to assess ease and relevance
of goals during uncertain life scenarios than predictable ones. They also state
that rigidly sticking to this framework may highlight failure and minimize
effort in the event that one does not meet their goal.

No matter what approach you use, keep in mind that you are encouraged to
periodically reevaluate, modify, and update your personal goals to fit your
unique situation.



How do I stick to my personal goals?
Once you have your personal goals in place, consider the following tips to
ensure that you see them through to completion:

 * Write it down: Whether hand-written or typed, you are more likely to remember
   and stay focused on goals that exist in the physical realm and not just your
   mind. Put your goals in a visible place in your daily environment to stay
   motivated!
   
   
 * Add a reward: If motivation to stick with your goal is waning, reward
   yourself for completing increments of progress as well as the big picture.
   While the long-term goal may be improved health, finances, or success, you're
   now competing for a short-term prize or privilege as well!
   
   
 * Add a consequence: Bold goal-setters may feel motivated to avoid a
   consequence in failing to meet an objective. Wager a financial incentive on
   your long-term goal date. If you meet the goal, you get to keep the money or
   continue your chosen activity. If you don't, you have to give the money away
   or avoid the activity until the goal is met!
   
   
 * Track the positives: Write down all positive feedback you get in pursuit of
   your goal. Keeping a record of what you've done and the achievements others
   have noticed might highlight your day-to-day progress.
   
   
 * Involve others: The more you make your ambitions known, the more others will
   check in on your progress! Individuals both in your personal life or online
   can help hold you accountable and provide encouragement to meet your goals.
   
   

Making and maintaining personal goals is a highly individualized process. You
may have to try multiple approaches to find the system that works best. Put your
efforts in perspective, even if you do not meet the goal initially. Did you
learn something during the process? Did you better yourself, even temporarily?
Can you reevaluate the situation, reframe the objective, and try again? As long
as you are trying to improve yourself in pursuit of a goal, you will never truly
fail.

Related Reading: The Importance of Setting Up a Post Stroke Routine
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/importance-of-setting-up-post-stroke-routine]

Doran, G. T. (1981). "There's a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management's goals and
objectives". Management Review. 70 (11): 35–36.

Wang, Lei. “6 Reasons Not to Use SMART Goals For Everything.” TLNT Talent
Management & HR, ERE Media, 1 Aug. 2017, 
https://www.tlnt.com/6-reasons-not-to-use-smart-goals-for-everything/.

Left sided neglect is defined as impaired awareness of stimuli on one side of the body, despite not having any sensory loss to that side of the body.

What is Left Neglect and How Can I Treat it?



What is left neglect and who does it affect?
Many stroke survivors
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/stroke-recovery-stories-post-stroke-rehab-stroke-survivor-marcy] 
experience left sided neglect. Some may experience it more extreme than others.
Left sided neglect is defined as impaired awareness of stimuli on one side of
the body, despite not having any sensory loss to that side of the body. Left
sided neglect is a common condition after sustaining an injury to the right
hemisphere of the brain
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/5-symptoms-right-side-stroke-brain]. Left sided
neglect is a common side affect of a cerebral infarction or haemorrhage.

Does left neglect affect ones independence and safety?
When someone has left sided neglect they may only eat food on the right side of
their plate, put make up on their right side of their face, only thread their
right arm in a sleeve of a shirt, comb their hair only on the ride side or start
writing in the middle of a page. Left sided neglect does not occur because of a
vision problem with the left eye but refers to being unaware of of your affected
side due to damage to the brain on the right side. Left sided neglect can
decrease ones independence and also can be a safety concern.



Left sided neglect can be a safety
[https://www.stroke.org/we-can-help/survivors/stroke-recovery/first-steps-to-recovery/safety-after-stroke/] 
concern for many reasons. If someone is unaware of their left sided surroundings
they may not be able to cross a busy street independently because they will have
a hard time recognizing cars coming from the left, they may get their left arm
stuck in the wheel of their wheelchair, they may bump in to items on their left
side, they may not see a hot stove that is located on their left side and bump
into it causing them to burn themselves and so on. Since left neglect can impact
ones independence and safety it is very important to address it with your doctor
or therapist.

How does one diagnose left neglect?


Either a Speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists,
neuropsychologists, optometrists, or a neurologists will perform assessments to
determine the severity of the left sided neglect. There are multiple assessments
that can be used. Some examples are providing a sheet of paper with a circle on
it and asking the stroke survivor to draw a clock or giving them a sheet of
paper with a bunch of numbers or letters on it and aksing them to cross out a
specific number or letter. If the stroke survivor is suffering from left sided
neglect many times you will notice them only crossing off letters or numbers on
the right side or drawing the numbers of a clock only on the right side of the
circle.

Is left neglect treatable?
Left neglect is treatable however, there are many different ways one can go
about treating it. The most common way to treat left neglect is forcing the
stroke survivor to pay attention to their left side and to utilize their left
sided extremities on a daily basis. Some examples would be by placing the stroke
survivors night stand on the left side of their bed, placing a clock on the left
side of the room, positioning the TV on the left side of the room or placing
their dinner plate towards their left side. All of these examples force the
stroke survivor to pay attention to their left side.

Constraint induced movement therapy is another way to treat left sided neglect.
Constraint induced movement therapy involves constraining movements of the
unaffected limb with a sling or mitt for 90% of the day forcing the stroke
survivor to use their affected limb for all functional tasks through out the
day. Constraint induced movement therapy is usually practiced in a 2-3 week
span.



There are many ways to treat left sided neglect but all of the treatments stem
from the idea of neuroplasticity
[https://brainworksneurotherapy.com/what-neuroplasticity]. 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. The
more repetitive exercises and movements one does, the stronger the pathways in
the brain will become. This is called neuroplasticity.

One way to continue to make progress in strengthening your neural pathways is by
using either the Neofect Smart Glove or Smart Board
[https://www.neofect.com/us/]. These products help increase the brain's ability
to rewire itself and increase the range of motion and strength in the upper
extremities. And the best part is that they do this with fun and engaging games!
Neofect’s products can also help with issues with vision and cognition. To learn
more about the Smart Board or Smart Glove please call us at 888-623-8984 or
email us at contactus@neofect.com.

Left Sided Neglect

Stroke survivors are three times more likely to fall at home after having a stroke than the general population. 

Fall Prevention Techniques for Stroke Survivors

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
[https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0922-older-adult-falls.html] about 3
million people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries each year
and over 800,000 patients are admitted to the hospital with an injury secondary
to the fall (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for
Injury Prevention and Control. Web–based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting
System (WISQARS) [online]. Accessed August 5, 2016.)

Stroke survivors are three times more likely to fall at home after having a
stroke than the general population. Therefore it is very important for stroke
survivors to understand why they are at a higher risk for falling and how to
prevent a fall.

Why do stroke survivors have a higher chance of falling?

After having a stroke
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/stroke-exercises-for-each-stage-of-stroke-recovery] 
many people exhibit one or more of these symptoms which can lead to impaired
balance and falls:

• Increased dizziness
• Impaired or loss of vision
• Increased weakness on affected side
• Foot drop
• Impaired cognition

What can a stroke survivor do to prevent a fall at home?

1. Increased dizziness can be caused by multiple factors. Dizziness can be
caused by dehydration, side effects from medication and low blood pressure.
Therefore it very important to always stay hydrated, monitor your blood pressure
and always speak to your doctor about possible side effects when starting a new
medication.

2. After surviving a stroke many people will notice a change with their vision.
 It is very important to get examined by an optometrist after surviving a
stroke. The doctor may need to adjust your glasses or they may also recommend
that you speak to an occupational therapist to work on exercises to address your
vision issues. It is important to make sure to always keep your house well lit
and free of obstacles.

3. After experiencing a stroke many people exhibit weakness on one side of their
body which can cause impaired balance. It is very important to continue to work
with a therapist to increase your range of motion and strength on the affected
side. It is also very important to always utilize your assistive device (ie:
walker or cane etc.) if needed.

4. Many stroke survivors tend to have drop foot
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/what-does-a-drop-foot-brace-do] after a stroke.
Drop foot means that you have a hard time lifting the front part of your foot.
If your doctor or therapist have given you a brace to wear it is very important
that you do so. It is important to keep doing your rehab exercises in order to
strength all the muscles in your foot and hopefully get rid of your drop foot!

5. Many stroke survivors present with impaired cognition after a stroke. Many
people have memory issues causing one to forget to use their assistive device at
all times. It is important that someone with impaired cognition has supervision
at home to prevent falls.  It is also important to set up the home to provide a
successful environment ie clear and light pathways.

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

To learn more, please call (888) 623-8984 or email contactus@neofect.com.

Fall Prevention

Within the first five years after your first stroke, the likelihood of having a stroke can increase up to 40% (24% of women and 42% of men). Learn stroke prevention.

How Can I Prevent Having Another Stoke?



According to the CDC [https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm], more than 795,000
people in the United States have a stroke every year. About 185,00 of these
strokes - nearly 1 in 4 — happen to people who have had a previous stroke.
Within the first five years after your first stroke, the likelihood of having a
stroke can increase up to 40%. Within 5 years of a stroke, 24% of women and 42%
of men will experience another stroke. On top of that, recurrent strokes have a
much higher rate of death and long term disability. Therefore if you have
suffered a stroke it is very important to make some big life changes in order to
prevent having another more severe one.

Here is a list of a few things you can do in order to prevent another stroke:



1) STOP SMOKING

Tobacco smokers are twice as likely to have a stroke. Tobacco smoke harms your
body in many different ways including thickening your blood, causing blood
clots, narrowing your arteries, and restricting oxygen in your bloodstream.



2) TAKE YOUR MEDICATION AS DIRECTED BY YOUR PHYSICIAN

Many people experience their first stroke due to high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, diabetes or coronary artery disease. People with high blood
pressure for example, are one and half times more likely to have a stroke.
Therefore if you do not take the correct medications to control these issues it
is likely that you will have another stroke.



3) STAY ACTIVE!

Exercise is very important in maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure.
People who exercise frequently are less likely to have the contributing factors
that lead to stroke.



4) EAT A HEALTHY DIET

Eating foods with lower calories, cholestrol, trans and saturated fats can help
you maintain your weight as well as your cholestrol levels. This can
significantly decrease your chance of having another stroke.



5) DRINK ALCOHOL IN MODERATION

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to heart disease and increased blood
pressure. Drinking two or more alcoholic beverages is shown to increase the risk
of stroke by up to 50%.



6) KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF A STROKE

It is very important to know the warnings signs
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/what-are-the-warning-signs-of-stroke-in-men] of
a stroke because the faster you can get help the higher your chance of survival
and making a full recovery. The acronym for spotting warning signs of a stroke
is F.A.S.T which stands for:

F - Face drooping
A - Arm weakness
S - Speech difficulty
T - Time to call 911

Overall it is very important to identify the factors caused your first stroke
and what the contributing health issues are in order to make changes to your
lifestyle in order to prevent recurrent strokes from occuring. Most of lifestyle
changes can be easily incorporated into your daily life and can make a
tremendous difference. It is important to stay hopeful and motivated, so that
you can recover from your condition and return to normal life.

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

To learn more, please call (888) 623-8984 or email contactus@neofect.com.