4 Therapies for Stroke Recovery

A stroke can cause significant brain damage, affecting your ability to move, speak and complete tasks you used to do every day. In addition to fast treatment for your stroke, supportive therapy during your stroke recovery can help you regain these abilities and improve your quality of life.

At Bon Secours In Motion, we offer comprehensive stroke rehabilitation services, including these four therapies that can help with your stroke recovery:

Speech Therapy

A stroke can have different effects on your abilities depending on where it takes place in your brain. For some people, language skills are unaffected, but they may have trouble moving their mouth and tongue to form words. Other people may have trouble finding words or understanding what is being said to them.

A speech language pathologist can help with all of these difficulties with specialized techniques. They can help you rebuild strength and control of your oral muscles. They can also help you begin to rebuild those neurological connections so that finding words is easier.  

Swallowing Therapy

Because one part of your body may be weakened, you may have trouble using your tongue and muscles in your throat to swallow food and water. A speech language pathologist can help you improve your swallowing abilities and teach you techniques to make swallowing easier. For instance, you may need to eat foods with your head in a certain position or choose to eat softer foods.

Occupational Therapy

Your stroke may make it hard to use your fine motor skills, such as buttoning your shirt with your hands or tying your shoelaces. You may not be able to write or sign your name. Even these small tasks can affect your independence.

Occupational therapists help you recover your ability to complete these “activities of daily living.” They may work with you to improve strength and control of your hands and arms. They may also give you specialized tools to help make these tasks easier.

Physical Therapy

Many patients who suffer a stroke experience weakness on one side of their body that affects their ability to walk, reach out or keep their balance. A physical therapist can work with you to regain these abilities.

Physical therapy for strokes may include exercises to help you rebuild strength and increase your range of motion. You may need to perform daily stretches, walk a certain amount per day or even lift small weights. A physical therapist can also teach you how to use a cane or a walker until it is safe for you to walk without one.

Physical therapy may also include constraint-induced therapy. In this type of therapy, your strong limb is constrained so that you use the weaker limb to perform tasks. This can help improve function in the affected side of your body.

At  Bon Secours In Motion, we work with you through the difficult process of stroke recovery. We offer personalized support to help you through the frustrating moments of recovery and improve your abilities in the weeks and months after your stroke.

Get your skills and abilities back. Contact Bon Secours In Motion today to schedule your first appointment for stroke rehabilitation.