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.