Buffalo Scoop

Life can get better after a stroke

May 4, 2016 | Lifestyles

(ProActive Sports Rehab offers a weekly column promoting health, fitness and physical therapy. Please be sure to check back each week for a new topic!)

Did you know that hundreds of thousands of individuals currently live with the effects of a stroke – and those include the mental, emotional and physical challenges that impact the quality of life? There is good news in medical advancements however, so here’s an update.

The physical effects of a stroke vary and they depend on the areas of the brain affected, and the degree of damage. One of the most painful effects for adults is limb spasticity, a condition where muscles become tight and stiff, and resist being stretched. Spasticity affects more than 65 percent of people within weeks and months of an attack and usually affects the arms, fingers and/or the legs. Spasticity can also be accompanied by painful muscle spasms. The restriction of movement makes day-to-day life a struggle and may require caregiver assistance for even the most basic movements.

If you are currently managing a stroke or are a caregiver, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s often a long road to recovery taking months and even years. Seeking therapies such as physical therapy can help in relieving pain, increasing mobility and improving quality of life for stroke survivors.

For limb spasticity, there are also medications and lesser known injectable treatments that can help promote muscular relaxation. Consulting a medical expert is the first step in determining the treatment option best for you.

For more information, please contact ProActive Sports Rehab today for a consultation, or visit www.beyondstroke.ca.
— News Canada

ProActive Sports Rehab, with offices in Orchard Park and Hamburg, offers one-on-one physical therapy and rehabilitation services. For more information, please visit http://proactivesportsrehab.com or call 674-9600 (Orchard Park office) or 648-8700 (Hamburg office). You can also follow ProActive Sports Rehab on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProActiveSportsRehab for frequent updates.

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