Occupational Therapy is Important when you are Recovering from Stroke
A Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) is often called a "stroke." During a stroke, there is an interruption of the blood supply to the brain, causing part of the brain to die.
This year, more than 500,000 Americans will have strokes. In spite of the problems that result from stroke, many of these people will return to their homes and live independent, productive lives with the skilled help of occupational therapy practitioners.
U.S. Stroke Statistics
On average, someone in the United States suffers a stroke every 52 seconds; every 3.3 minutes someone dies of one.
Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. behind heart disease and cancer.
28 percent of the people who suffer a stroke in a given year are under the age of 65.
For people over the age of 55, the incidence of stroke more than doubles in each successive decade.
About 4.4 million stroke survivors are alive today.
From 1987 to 1997, the stroke death rate fell 13.9 percent, but the actual number of stroke deaths rose 6.6 percent.
(Source: American Heart Association)
|
Problems resulting from a stroke may include:
- weakness of one (or both) side(s) of the body
- coordination and/or motor control difficulties resulting in difficulty or inability to hold or manipulate objects like eating utensils, buttons, etc.
- difficulty with mobility, which includes moving around in bed, getting up from the bed, getting on/off a commode, walking, etc.
- balance problems, dizziness
- difficulties with memory and thought
- difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- difficulty swallowing, diet problems
- problems with vision (including partial or full blindness)
- problems with reading, writing and arithmetic
- problems attending to one side of the body (neglect)
- depression, mood swings, emotional lability
- behavioral changes
- incontinence
- sexual dysfunction
- pain
These problems may interfere with your ability to:
- care for personal needs, like bathing and dressing
- prepare meals and care for your home
- move about in the community, drive a car, or use public transportation
- participate in work, educational, and leisure activities
While you are recovering, occupational therapy can help you:
- learn new ways to manage daily tasks, such as eating, dressing, and bathing
- obtain special assistive equipment to help you function more independently
- discover ways to increase your physical strength, endurance and mobility
- compensate for losses of sensation and vision
- develop the skills necessary to return to work, household tasks, and community activities
Warning Signs of a Stroke
- Sudden weakness in an arm, hand or leg
- Numbness in one side of face or body
- Sudden loss of sight in one eye
- Difficulty speaking or swallowing
- Difficulty understanding what someone else is saying
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance
- Catastrophic headache
|
To help you increase your independence, the occupational therapist may:
- recommend altering your home to eliminate hazards to walking or using a wheelchair
- recommend special devices or aids that help you to perform home and work tasks
- recommend methods of dressing and bathing
- recommend techniques and resources for improving your mobility in the home and community
Occupational therapy practitioners are important members of the health care team working with people recovering from stroke. They teach individuals who have had strokes to cope with disability and to become as independent as possible so they can continue their work and personal lives, manage stress and fatigue, and participate fully in family and community life.
The occupational therapist is a health care professional who has a bachelor's or master's degree and has completed a clinical internship. The occupational therapy assistant holds an associate degree and has also completed a clinical internship. Both occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants must pass a national certification examination. Many states also regulate the practice of occupational therapy.
The goal of occupational therapy is to help individuals to become as independent as possible in daily life. Many people who have experienced strokes are meeting this goal with the help of occupational therapy.
Occupational therapy services are available in many hospitals, rehabilitation centers and home health programs. To find occupational therapy professionals in your community, contact the occupational therapy department at your local hospital or:
Stroke survivors make an important contribution to their recovery by being informed and active participants in the rehabilitation process.
They should ask for time to consider decisions being made about their care. If the stroke has made it difficult for an individual to speak, seek the assistance of a speech pathologist or enlist family members to aid in communication.
Family members help the stroke survivor by participating in education offered for survivors and family members. They can attend some rehabilitation sessions and encourage and help the person to practice skills. They can assist staff in choosing activities meeting the person's interests and needs.
To contact an occupational therapist in your community, check with your primary care physician, the occupational therapy department in your community hospital, or a home health agency.
RESOURCES
Administration on Aging
330 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20201
1-800-677-1116
Call for list of community services for older Americans in your area.
American Stroke Association
Division of American Heart Association
7272 Greenville
Dallas, TX 75231
1-800-553-6321
(or check telephone book for local AHA office)
www.strokeassociation.org
National Stroke Association
www.stroke.org
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
www.ninds.nih.gov
American Medical Association
AMA Health Insight
www.ama-assn.org
The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220,
Bethesda, MD 20824-1220
ConsumerLine-- 1-800-668-8255
www.aota.org
|
