Recovery Action After Stroke

Stroke is the second leading cause of death in the world and is the number one cause of death that often occurs in Indonesia. Based on the 2018 Indonesian Ministry of Health Basic Health Survey, the prevalence of stroke was 10.9%. As many as 2,120,362 people suffer from stroke every year.

Then do you know about stroke?
Stroke is a disease which disrupts or stops the flow of blood to the brain, causing blocked blood vessels (ischemic stroke) or rupture of blood vessels (hemorrhagic stroke).

The condition described causes a lack of oxygen and nutrients in certain areas of the brain, causing the death of brain cells. Some people can recover on their own after having a stroke, but there are also those who need long-term care to help the recovery process.

Post-stroke interventions include drug therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and psychology. Post-stroke should be carried out by a rehabilitation team consisting of rehabilitation doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and psychologists, because this requires the ability to adapt to the special needs of stroke patients during training assignments.

On the one hand, to measure the ability of post-stroke patients, exercise can be done which can help maintain muscle recovery so that their strength is maintained and stimulated. For example walking, raising hands, grasping, and so on. This type of therapy is also called Activity of Daily Living (ADL) which is a type of therapy used to train members who have problems in their daily activities so that patients can be independent.

The following are various post-stroke exercise programs. This program is tailored to the specific needs of stroke patients, the following are post-stroke exercises that can be done:
 
  1. Functional activity
  The goal of this exercise is to train stroke survivors to practice functional tasks and activities. Activities that involve exercise include getting up from a chair, walking, and climbing stairs.

   2. Train muscle strength
  This exercise focuses on strengthening the muscles affected by a stroke resulting in paralysis. A series of strength exercises are performed, such as getting up from a chair or lifting and lowering objects.

3. Practice balance
  Balance exercises focus on restoring the ability to walk and body balance in stroke sufferers.

  4. Positioning
  This exercise guides stroke patients to assume the correct posture. Correct posture can help reduce muscle pain, spasms, lethargy or stiffness due to stroke. The therapist teaches you how to get into a safe position from sitting to standing, and also shows you how to properly support yourself while sitting or lying down with other assistive devices.

One treatment that can be done is occupational therapy which is carried out in stages to train daily activities (ADL). Examples of therapy include self-care (self-care including eating, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, repositioning/movement), and productivity (work, education) and leisure (hobbies).

  Post-stroke exercise may change over time. It all depends on the progress and development of the stroke patient. Apart from exercise, family support is also important in post-stroke recovery.