Rehabilitation

When someone has had a stroke or a brain injury, the recovery process often requires rehabilitation. Rehabilitation may be done in a hospital, a rehabilitation center, or at home. The rehabilitation team may include doctors, nurses and therapists. A social worker, psychologist, or case manager may also be a part of the team. These professionals will work with patients to guide them along the recovery process. It is impossible to predict how long the recovery process will take or how much therapy one person will need. Sometimes people recover very quickly, for others it is a long, slow process. In most cases, therapies may begin and end at different points during the rehabilitation phase.

What is Physical Therapy?

Sometimes a stroke or a brain injury can cause weakness or paralysis in the muscles of the body. Sometimes just one side of the body is injured. If a stroke happens in the left side of the brain, then the person might have weakness in the right side of the body. A physical therapist (PT) will help in strengthening the weak muscles. They also work on balance, standing and walking. Sometimes a person might need to use a wheelchair. The physical therapist helps with learning how to get in and out of the wheelchair and how to move the wheelchair around. They will also help a person learn to walk with a walker or a cane. Physical therapists often give people a home exercise program so that they can work on regaining strength in their muscles everyday. Exercises can help the weak side from becoming painful, and help prevent injuries in the stronger side.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapists (OT) help with the activities that people do everyday. These are called Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and include activities such as dressing, bathing, cooking and using the bathroom. Occupational therapists may recommend special equipment (often called adaptive equipment) to help with this goal. This can include a bench for the bathtub or special silverware.

Occupational therapists help people learn how to do their ADLs safely, even though they may have trouble moving their arms and legs because of a stroke or brain injury. These therapists work with their patients to strengthen their shoulders, arms and hands. Sometimes the therapists make special splints to help position a patient’s weakened hand or arm. Hand specialists are occupational therapists that specialize in the fine movements of the hands.

Occupational therapists may also look at problem solving and planning. It is their goal to help a person stay safe while being as independent as possible.

What is Speech Therapy?

Sometimes a stroke or brain injury can cause changes in survivors' ability to communicate. A speech-language pathologist (SLP), or speech therapist, will help to improve survivor's ability to communicate. Therapy may involve strategies to help find the right words, say words more clearly, or find other ways to communicate besides talking. Sometimes people think that they do not need speech therapy because their speech sounds fine! SLPs help with all kinds of communication - talking, listening, reading and writing. Speech therapy may also address changes in thinking skills, such as memory and reasoning, or trouble with swallowing.