Physical therapy home program and intervention in post-stroke patients

Date of Completion

1997

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy

Keywords

Stroke, Physical Therapy

Abstract

Recovery from a stroke is a natural process and rehabilitation techniques provide compensatory skills for functional deficits. The process of recovery may halt at any phase. The main objective of this study is to formulate a specific and comprehensive home program that is consistent with the patient's physiological or anatomical impairment and environmental limitations. The most important thing to be considered after being discharged from the hospital or rehabilitation center is the patient's daily life, when carried out correctly, will help him maintain his mobility and will also encourage further improvement. The prescription of a comprehensive home program is of utmost importance because it could hasten the recovery process and prevent complications secondary to stoke like atrophy, progressive muscle weakness, tightness or contractures, shoulder subluxation, shoulder hand syndrome, heterotopic ossification, deep vein thrombosis and postural hypotension. Intracerebral hemorrhage accounts for only 10% of all strokes but it is the rarest and most catastrophic type of CVA. The prognosis for hemorrhagic stroke is poor with an initial mortality rate of 50-70% but if the patient does recover, the blood is reabsorbed leaving only mild deficits. The case of A.L. a 58 year old, (+) HTN, non-DM, male from Anabu, Cavite was one of a kind due to his miraculous recovery in barely 3 months, but it would have been better if a specific home program was given to carry out rehabilitation 24 hours a day. To hasten the patient's recovery, he was given a specific and comprehensive home program. The home program included the following relaxation exercises; self-assisted ROME's for R UE, PRE's for the rest of the extremities, facial exercise; Mat activates that follows the Ontogenetical plan of development, starting from supine-prone-kneeling-sitting-ambulation; and ADL re-education. Architectural modifications were also recommended to enhance patient's independence in his activities of daily living. The living space was rearranged for easy accessibility and provide sufficient room for ambulating and maneuvering with an assistive device. Grab bars and non-skid mats were also placed for safety purposes. Future studies on the follow-up on the efficacy of the home program is recommended after 1-2 months, in order to evaluate the patient's compliance and family participation in the program.

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