After a stroke, rehabilitation therapy is key to helping patients regain function, strength, and stamina.
Regional One Health offers inpatient and outpatient stroke rehabilitation, and our Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital recently earned accreditation for its Stroke Specialty Program.
By starting evidence-based stroke rehab as soon as possible, stroke patients can regain independence and improve quality of life.
A stroke is a life-changing event that can impact your physical, mental, and emotional health – but with proper rehabilitation, many stroke patients can regain independence and quality of life.
Regional One Health’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital recently earned stroke accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. That means the Stroke Specialty Program meets the most rigorous national standards for patient care.
Mario Ray, MD, MBA, FACP, CIME is medical director of Regional One Health’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital. “We have a highly trained team of rehabilitation specialists to care for patients who are hospitalized after a stroke,” he said.
“Regional One Health also offers outpatient rehabilitation for stroke patients, which allows them to continue to make progress and improve their health after they are discharged.”
Stroke rehabilitation focuses on restoring physical and mental function, improving symptoms, and enhancing quality of life, Dr. Ray said.
Dr. Mario Ray and his team take a patient-centered approach to stroke rehabilitation. “We recognize that every patient has different strengths, preferences, and needs, and we use the latest research and evidence-based practices to develop individualized treatment plans,” he noted.
“We recognize that every patient has different strengths, preferences, and needs, and we use the latest research and evidence-based practices to develop individualized treatment plans,” he noted.
Stroke rehab should start as soon as possible after the stroke, ideally while a patient is still in the hospital. The earlier a patient begins rehabilitation, the better their chances of recovery.
Dr. Ray said the initial focus is on basic functions like walking and overall mobility, speech, and activities of daily living like showering, going to the restroom, and getting dressed.
As the patient’s strength, stamina, and function improves, therapy can address more specific issues. For example, if a patient plans to return to work, we can provide exercises that mimic job tasks. If they have a hobby that requires certain movements, we focus on regaining those skills.
Regional One Health offers comprehensive rehabilitation services.
Physical therapists focus on large motor skills to improve movement, strength and coordination. They help patients regain the ability to walk and improve use of their arms and legs.
Occupational therapists address smaller motor skills, which we use during daily tasks including cooking, cleaning, and self-care.
Speech therapy helps people who have speech and communication deficits, as well as cognitive issues like problems with memory and concentration. Speech-language pathologists can also address swallow disorders.
Stroke rehabilitation can include physical, occupational, and speech therapy. The goal is to help patients regain function and learn new ways of doing tasks so they can improve independence and quality of life.
“Along with teaching patients exercises aimed at restoring strength and function, our therapists can help patients learn new ways of performing tasks if needed,” Dr. Ray said. “This includes the use of various forms of assistive technology, such as tablets and apps for speech and concentration issues or a cane for problems with walking or balance.”
For many patients, stroke rehabilitation pays off in a big way.
It helps patients restore function, regain independence, adjust to limitations, and manage changes in mood, memory and cognition. Rehabilitation also has a strong education component, so it can prevent complications and help reduce the risk of the patient suffering another stroke.
“With the right therapies and support from a dedicated team of professionals, many patients can make significant progress in regaining their independence and improving their quality of life,” Dr. Ray said.