Physiotherapy Treatment For Stroke Patients in Malaysia

Previously, we have covered the fundamental knowledge and symptoms of stroke on our blog article. While we have explained what exactly stroke is and what to look out for, it's about time we go into the different physiotherapy treatments that are available for many stroke patients out there.

In this article, let's explore the various approaches, benefits and long-term effects of receiving physiotherapy treatment for stroke patients, especially when professionally treated by a well-regarded stroke rehabilitation centre in Malaysia!

A quick recap of stroke

When a person experiences a stroke, he/she is suffering from a serious disconnection between your brain and specific muscles on the body. 

This is exactly the reason strokes are the number one cause of long-term disability as stroke patients often result in a loss of mobility and movement.

While many stroke patients suffer from a major drop in quality of life as a result, this isn't necessarily a permanent disability. In fact, stroke rehabilitation plays a vital part in the beginning stages of stroke recovering, especially when it comes to patients with little to no control of their affected muscles.

What is the purpose of physiotherapy treatment for stroke patients?

When it comes to the purpose of post-stroke physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs, there are four main goals that physiotherapy treatments are focused on achieving (depending on the patient's need, of course).

These generally are:

• To recover the relevant motor skills that were affected by stroke
• To regain communication capabilities
• To recover cognitive abilities if affected
• To recover self mobility and independence

The different physiotherapy treatment for stroke patients and their benefits:

1.  Positioning

The practice of positioning in physiotherapy in stroke parents is aimed at trying to promote optimal recovery and comfort by modulating muscle tone, providing appropriate sensory information, increasing spatial awareness, improved ability to interact with the environment and prevention of complications such as pressure sores.

It is often done after an initial assessment and using devices to support and assist the positioning of different parts of the patient's body, including elevation and manual handling of the affected patient's body position. 

2.  Early Mobilisation

As immobility is a common symptom of post-stroke complications such as deep vein thrombosis, the early mobilization treatment approach targets to reduce downtime of patients staying in bed and encourage physical activity of the patient outside of bedrest.

This can include movements and activities such as sitting out of bed, standing and walking.

3.  Balancing

While everyday folks take balancing for granted, stroke patients are commonly affected by balancing issues as they often suffer from reduced limb and trunk motor control.

This is compounded by an altered or loss in sensation of their body posture. As a result, the impaired balance increases the risk of falls.

Physiotherapy methods on balance often come in the form of:

• Sitting
• Standing

This approach to physiotherapy include practicing functional, task-specific training and movements while standing, walking and establishing standing balance (for example, walking through on obstacle course).

Patients might also receive lower-limb strength training exercises.

4.  Gait & Mobility

One of the highest priority in terms of achieving the desired result of physiotherapy for stroke patients is to regain their mobility and independence.

This treatment approach uses equipments and varying methods such as walking-oriented leg exercises.

5.  Treadmill Training

Last but not least, treadmill training is a great method that is very commonly utilised for gait recovery and improvements in bodily aerobic function.

This can be done via weight-supported harnesses for patients to gradually increase more and more body weight supported by their lower body. 

Therapists are often on-hand to improve gait measures such as alternative stepping and weight-bearing to improve what many would call a gait cycle.

Treadmill training gives stroke patients an opportunity to improve their walking independence, speed, endurance as well as their aerobic fitness in general.

Choose Well Rehab as your trusted stroke rehabilitation centre in Malaysia

Ensuring our patient's quality of life improves even after suffering a stroke drives all of us at Well Rehab.

As Malaysia's leading provider of physiotherapy treatment for stroke patients, we are the preferred, qualified and certified professionals that are trusted nationwide.

For more information about our therapies or services as the leading stroke rehabilitation centre in Malaysia, you may contact us at +60 12 512 8487 or email wellrehabmanagement@gmail.com.