There's always something else she can do. The only limiting factor is what she's willing to do.
Stroke is a neurological problem caused by sudden disruption of blood flow to the brain and a leading cause of adult disability and death in the U.S. The most common problems after a stroke are highly contracted muscles, weakness on one side of the body, loss of coordination and poor balance.
Some make a full recovery while others don't show much improvement and become permanently disabled. The location of the clot, age of the person and variations in the person's overall brain function all can account for variations in recovery (Lancet 2011).
Regardless, research suggests that the sooner rehabilitation is started, the greater the functional recovery (Archives of Neurology 2012).
The basis for rehabilitation post-stroke is plasticity, or your brain's ability to change in response to external stimuli. This is what makes certain exercises crucial for recovery and why they should be done daily. There are also new drug therapies that have been shown to promote brain "re-growth" by inhibiting certain proteins that block plasticity (Brain 2012; Nature Neuroscience 2009).
While it's probably true that significant recovery happens within three to six months after stroke, major improvements can continue to be made for years (Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2004).
There are various post-stroke treatment methods that show promise: forcing a person to use the affected side by restricting use of the unaffected side (Lancet Neurology 2009); using a mirror to hide the affected side during upper body activities, thereby increasing brain function by tricking it into thinking the affected side is functioning (Cochrane Database System Reviews 2012); applying a coil to a person's scalp to facilitate direct brain stimulation, thus potentially enhancing function of damaged brain regions (Neurorehab Neural Repair 2012 & 2013); and increasing social interaction (Experimental Neurology 2009; Stroke 2005).
One of the amazing things about the brain is its reorganization ability, in which certain areas of the brain start to assume roles once held by the brain areas damaged by the stroke (Brain 2012). This can take years to develop, but is a compelling reason to never quit rehabilitation.
Physical therapy is standard treatment post-stroke and can be effective depending on the skill of the physical therapist (Nature Reviews Neuroscience 2009). Because muscle weakness contributes directly to loss of function post-stroke, resistance training is a crucial part of the recovery process (Physical Therapy 2007).
The one-legged step-down (see photograph) is an effective way to improve lower body strength because it forces each leg to function independently. Regardless of the exercise, they must be done correctly and with adequate intensity to avoid injury and promote strength.
Continue reading here:
Colin Hoobler: With stroke recovery, start rehab quickly