5 Facts to Know About Speech Pathology and Stroke Recovery

1. Speech therapy is an integral part of stroke recovery

While many things can be affected due to a stroke, most often some area of language skills, speech ability, or swallowing is affected. In many cases, a speech pathologist is on hand to evaluate a stroke patient within a day of their hospital admission. Common sense dictates the importance of identifying areas of damage and creating a plan for improvement as quickly as possible.

2. Speech therapy can help with impaired swallowing

Speech pathology is most often associated with helping a stroke victim regain the ability to communicate, but there are other purposes. In many cases, a person also loses the ability to properly control the act of swallowing. This can be embarrassing, but more importantly, it can be dangerous. Choking becomes a huge hazard. A therapist can help regain muscle control to improve ability.

3. Stimulation of the brain promotes growth

Many doctors believe that it is important to begin speech therapy as soon after stroke as possible. It is a widely held belief that exercising the brain and working muscles and providing stimulation to the body helps it repair and grow faster. While some strokes are severe and might have irrevocable damage, there can often be some amount of improvement gained through therapy.

4. Speech and language are not the same thing

While speech and language are not the same thing, speech therapy can help with both. Language is the ability to understand and use language. If language is impaired due to stroke, there is often a disconnect in the brain about what to say or how to organize thoughts into words. Speech involves the mechanical ability to produce sounds and words while talking. It is possible to have issues with speech, but not language, and vice versa.

5. A variety of therapy tools are used

Sometimes, a speech pathologist will prefer a one-on-one setting, and sometimes it is beneficial to perform speech therapy in a group. In many cases, the therapy is provided at a rehab center, with a number of tools and equipment options. Other times it is done in the patient’s home. It can also be helpful to have therapy sessions at normal places of daily activity, like a restaurant or store. This provides a real-world use of the skills being gained.

Remember to check with your doctor before taking any treatment or medical remedy.

If you would like to learn more about speech therapy in Seguin, Texas, visit Guadalupe Regional Medical Center.

5 Big Benefits of Aquatic Therapy

1. Great for resistance training

Aquatic therapy can offer a number of benefits in resistance training. It provides support for weak muscles, while simultaneously providing a force to work against to increase strength. It can also help improve the range of motion and general flexibility of the body. The natural qualities of water mean that minimal equipment is needed.

2. Hydrostatic pressure

The force exerted on a human when they are in the water is called hydrostatic pressure. There are a number of benefits. It can help increase circulation, decrease blood pooling, and reduce pain associated with the downward pressure of gravity on the body. The sensation can be similar to the benefits that compression stocking can provide. Most people find that pressure to be calming, which can also make for a successful therapy.

3. Support for a weakened body

Candidates that partake in aquatic therapy often have injuries or conditions that prevent their body from being able to support itself in normal gravity. However, water provides a buoyancy that helps support the body. In many cases, those in a wheelchair are able to walk with little or no assistance in water. Patients can have a reduced fear of falling are especially helped in this environment. It helps both the patient and the therapist.

4. Reduction of involuntary movements

Some injuries, including physical and neurological ones, can cause the body to do involuntary movements. This jerking or spasm-like motion can be distracting and embarrassing. The pressure of the water during aquatic therapy can help reduce those movements. It can also provide a good environment to help re-learn intended movements. The water’s resistance forces the action be performed slower, with enough time for the patient to think of what they are doing as they do it and gain muscle memory.

5. A less clinical environment

Often, those going through therapy have undergone a lot of hours in clinical settings. Even seeing a hospital or doctor’s office can induce stress and feelings of anxiety. By moving the therapy session to a pool setting, the atmosphere is immediately made more calm and enjoyable. The support that water provides can also create a socially equalizing effect. It can sometimes be difficult to discern the patient from the therapist, which can help a patient feel relevant and normal.

Remember to check with your doctor before taking any treatment or medical remedy

If you would like to learn more about aquatic therapy in Seguin, TX, click here.

Your Doctor's Prescribed Rehab. Now What?

If your doctor prescribes you comprehensive rehabilitation, you may have questions about what that means. In most cases, a physical or occupational therapist will be assigned to help teach you the proper rehab methods. Whether those activities are done at home or at a facility, it is important for your health to follow all directions closely and perform all therapy as well as possible. Your likelihood of recovery, rage of ability,  and general strength are all increased by correctly performing prescribed rehab.

In most cases, doctors will want comprehensive rehabilitation to begin as soon as possible. If your injury or malady involved a hospital stay, a physical therapist is often dispatched to speak with you and begin routines before you even leave the hospital. You may be in pain or be scared to start, but many doctors believe that it is important to keep strength and flexibility by using as much of the body as possible as soon as possible.

Sometimes, the comprehensive rehabilitation involves tools or equipment. It is important that you understand how to use them properly and how many repetitions to do. While performing the therapy is important, so is safety. In a rehab facility, you often have access to state of the art equipment. At home, things like large bands made of rubber, yoga balls, devices with springs or pedals, light hand-weights, and even everyday objects like steps and chairs might be used to help provide support or resistance.

In the beginning, pain is to be expected and is a normal part of healing from an injury. Common sense dictates that although it is important to push through the pain, you also know your body’s limits. Inform the therapist or doctor if anything feels wrong or too painful. As the body heals and physical therapy makes the surrounding bones and soft tissue stronger, the pain should begin to subside. With hard work and dedication to the instructions of the doctor and therapists, you can be on your way to regaining life activities and an improved quality of life.

Remember to check with your doctor before taking any treatment or medical remedy.

If you would like to learn more about comprehensive rehabilitation in Seguin, Texas, visit GRMC.

How to Choose an Inpatient Rehab Center

With so many things to think about after a trauma or illness, trying to research inpatient rehab centers can be overwhelming. The key is to do a little research, know the services needed, and make good notes about the properties you find so you can make the best decision possible. While this is a busy time, finding the right facility that has the services you need, is close to home, and provides affordable care is important for a good healing process. 

There are several ways to research for inpatient rehab centers. One way is to simply ask for a referral from your doctors. They likely have a few options they have worked with and trust. You could also do an Internet search. This could be helpful for finding an option in a specific area or with a certain specialty. Common sense dictates that you could also ask friends and family if they have recommendations or have used any facilities in the past.

It is also important to know what types of services you need. Every property has different strengths and weaknesses and knowing which amenities to look for will help later when it is time to make a decision. Look with inpatient rehab centers with a comprehensive staff. Doctors and qualified nurses aren’t the only necessary team members. Occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, and a variety of specialists will also be necessary.

Before starting any program, be sure to check with the rehab center to see if they take your insurance. If not, ask about their payment plans or options. If you don’t have the funds to cover the services, then it is best to keep looking for a property that is covered by your insurance.

Feel free to visit any inpatient rehab centers or interview any doctor. Ask questions about how long they have been in business and for their accreditations. During your research phase, keep good notes about what you find, so that when it is time to make a decision about which facility to choose, you will have organized information at hand.

Remember to check with your doctor before taking any treatment or medical remedy.

If you would like to learn more about inpatient rehab centers in Seguin, Texas, visit Guadalupe Regional Medical Center.

After Your Accident: 5 Tips for Survival and Recovery

If you have experienced a serious accident and are undergoing comprehensive rehabilitation, there are likely many physical and emotional boundaries to cross. It is important to maintain a good relationship with your doctors and to create a strong network of family and friends to help you heal quickly.

1. Face your feelings

Some medical professionals believe that ignoring feelings could actually make healing go more slowly. It is better to let the body and mind heal at their own pace, which means allowing even negative feelings to go their course.

2. Try not to obsess over what you can’t control

Chances are, after experiencing a traumatic event and leaving comprehensive rehabilitation, there will be fears about things in the world. Rather than obsessing over what you can’t control, common sense dictates it is best to turn your focus to positive things.

3. Reach out to those around you for help

Comprehensive rehabilitation from traumatic injuries means addressing both the physical and emotional wounds. Friends, family, and medical staff around you can help make you more comfortable and give you tools to cope emotionally.

4. Get back to a routine

Common sense dictates that it is good to return to as much normal daily life as possible after taking time off to recover from a trauma in comprehensive rehabilitation. The routine can help you heal. However, it is also important to not become too stressed. Do what you can, but make time for rest, relaxation, and enjoyable activities.

5. Remember that everyone reacts differently

There isn’t a right or wrong way to react to a violent event. It is best to allow yourself to move through your emotions naturally. Don’t let people tell you what you should be feeling, doing, or thinking. The experience is personal, even in a shared traumatic experience.

Remember to check with your doctor before taking any treatment or medical remedy.

For more information about comprehensive rehabilitation in the Seguin, Texas area, click here.

What To Expect During Your Inpatient Rehab Stay

If you are about to enter an inpatient rehab hospital, then rest assured that you will be properly cared for. The facility is specially designed for those with severe injuries or trauma. They provide an environment in which you can receive the best intensive therapy to help regain cognition, motor skills, basic life skills, or general health. The goal of the stay there is to prepare you with the tools necessary to regain the most abilities possible for an independent life at home or in an assisted living facility.

An inpatient rehab hospital will provide 24 hour care with a place to sleep, daily meals, nursing attention, distributing medications, and all necessary therapies. Typically, a serious regimen of physical therapy is necessary. For several hours a day throughout the week, time will be dedicated to healing the various areas of the body. This includes learning to perform physical tasks, such as walking, sitting, and standing, as well as daily tasks, like getting dressed and preparing meals. During inpatient rehab, mental therapy is also key to keeping spirits high during the difficult times when depression easily overtakes you.

A team of medical professionals working together can be expected. In order to best address all the areas in order to return you to health, it takes many specialties and medical professionals. From nurses and therapists to specialists and surgeons, they will each evaluate you for their own input and then work together as a team for diagnosis and treatment plans. They will also meet with you and each other throughout the stay in order to monitor progress and adjust treatment. While going to an inpatient rehab center might be frightening or stressful, it is an important step towards recovery.

Remember to check with your doctor before taking any treatment or medical remedy.

If you would like to learn more about inpatient rehab centers in Georgetown, TX, visit Guadalupe Regional Medical Center.

How Your Respiratory Therapist Can Help You Breathe Better

The definition of rehabilitation is to help a patient regain former abilities. In the case of impaired respiratory function, a respiratory therapist can create a therapy plan to improve the way the organs, muscles, and soft tissues work when breathing. All ages suffer from breathing issues, from infants to the elderly. Since oxygen is essential to life, common sense dictates that any issue with cardiopulmonary activity is serious and should be addressed quickly.

Conditions, injuries, and illnesses that affect the way a person breaths are common. Asthma, pneumonia, and emphysema are all relatively prominent and can have a serious impact on a person's ability to perform daily tasks. The loss of breath can be terrifying to experience and some people become so fearful that they reduce life activities to the bare minimum, in order to avoid an attack. In severe cases, the patient's illness doesn't allow them to function or breathe properly. Rehabilitation can help combat the side effects and provide patients with the tools necessary to avoid serious breathing attacks.

A respiratory therapist can help diagnose a breathing problem and will create a tailored treatment plan. Through rehabilitation, lung capacity and breathing ability can be improved or maintained. The specialists are active in every stage of a medical environment, from emergency room and intensive care treatment to testing laboratories and rehabilitation facilities. They meet with other doctors to evaluate and adjust treatment. They also provide education to patients and family members about proper care and prevention methods.

Respiratory therapists perform and oversee a variety of diagnostic procedures. Testing for breathing capacity and to measure the percentage of gases and oxygen in the blood, on the breath, and in body tissue is also necessary to see how well the respiratory system is functioning. Through those tests they can determine the problem and begin addressing it with rehabilitation, therapy or medications. If relevant, they will provide counseling on smoking cessation. In severe cases, they provide instruction on how to use airway devices and ventilators to family members.

Remember to check with your doctor before starting any treatment or medical remedy.

If you would like to learn more about rehabilitation in Seguin, click here.