Upper Extremity Orthoses in Stroke Rehabilitation

Static Hand-Wrist Orthosis (Rest Splint) A Static Hand-Wrist Orthosis (Rest Splint) is often used to position the hand and wrist after a stroke. It is recommended to hold the wrist at 20-30 degrees of extension, the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint at 40-45 degrees of flexion, the interphalangeal joints at 10-20 degrees of flexion, and the thumb…

Maximizing Stroke Rehabilitation: Principles, Potential Factors, and Planning

The primary goal of stroke rehabilitation is to maximize patients’ physical, mental, social, occupational, private, and educational potential according to their wishes and life plans. Basic Principles of Rehabilitation: Ensuring the planning and execution of treatments for comorbid diseases. Preventing or minimizing secondary complications. Replacing lost motor function. Compensating for sensory and perceptual losses. Ensuring…

Mirror Therapy for Stroke Patients

Mirror therapy was initially introduced in 1996 by Ramachandran et al. as a treatment for phantom pain after amputation. Since then, it has been utilized for various other conditions, including complex regional pain syndrome, severe hyperesthesia after hand injuries, rehabilitation of the hemiplegic side in patients with cerebrovascular accidents (CVO), and the treatment of peripheral…

Gait (Walking) in Stroke

Walking ability is impaired in 80% of stroke patients. Although most of these patients regain their ability to walk, 40% require assistance while walking, and 60% have limitations in community ambulation. Half of the people with social ambulation one year after stroke, who are relatively well developed, can only walk 40% of the expected distance…

Lower Extremity Orthotic Treatment in Stroke Rehabilitation

Orthotic and motor learning-based neurophysiological approaches play an important role in stroke rehabilitation. While orthotic applications were traditionally used in the subacute period, recent studies have shown that the use of orthotics in the acute period contributes more to the patient’s functionality. Although the purpose of orthotic treatment differs between the acute and chronic periods,…

A New Approach to Rehabilitating Movement in Stroke: Evidence-based Approaches

Advancements in technology have led to the development of new approaches to rehabilitation aimed at reducing paralysis, restoring movement, and improving outcomes in stroke patients. Studies have proved the effectiveness of these approaches. Among the novel approaches are mirror therapy, biofeedback therapy, robot-assisted therapy, restrictive-forced motion therapy, virtual reality, telerehabilitation, and transcranial magnetic stimulation treatments.…

Stroke and Balance

Both dynamic and static balance is impaired after hemiplegia. Hemiplegic individuals exhibit a postural deviation that can be up to twice as high as their peers of the same age. Furthermore, weight transfer symmetry is also disrupted, with hemiplegic individuals transferring weight toward the healthy side at a rate of 61-80%. In addition, there is…

Types of Stroke and Treatment

A stroke is a medical term for a blood vessel in the brain bursting and bleeding or when a part of the brain is deprived of blood supply and, by extension, oxygen and vital nutrients. Blood and oxygen are rendered unable to reach the brain because of the rupture or obstruction, which results in damage…

Causes of Stroke

A clot or a leakage preventing blood flow to the brain or a portion of the brain, or an artery in the brain bursting or rupturing; it is medically termed a stroke. Strokes are often also referred to as brain attacks. The brain either partially dies or suffers damage in either scenario. A stroke may…