Disability after a stroke is a common occurrence. Many people find that their quality of life is instantly changed after a stroke, and that things that were once very easy for them to do suddenly become impossible. Senior care is often needed during this time. Some people begin to recover their motor skills after physical therapy, but others remain permanently disabled for the rest of their lives.
Researchers and doctors all over the world are trying to improve the outcome for those that have had a stroke. One of the newer methods that is being looked at comes out of Switzerland and involves a dual-therapy approach. Doctors at Geneva University Hospitals used a brain-computer interfacing approach and coupled it with functional electronic stimulation and found that their results were positive. 27 patients between the ages of 36 and 76 were observed. All of these individuals had similar brain lesions, and all suffered from partial arm paralysis that was caused by a stroke at least ten months ago. Some were treated with the dual-therapy, while others were only treated with functional electronic stimulation. The half that received dual-therapy saw significant improvement in their motor functions.
The results of this study were recently published in the Nature Communications journal. It is believed that the success of this treatment is due to the fact that scientists can more accurately pinpoint the areas of the brain that respond to stimulation and the timing of the impulse could be given with greater accuracy. This continues to be an area where doctors can find opportunities to help their patients.
New stroke therapies may help reduce long term disability.
As caregivers, this is a topic that hits right at home for us. We have worked with many people that have suffered from a stroke and now need assistance getting through the day as a result of that. It’s a life changing event. Improved treatments for stroke like this one will hopefully help diminish the severity of a stroke and the impact that it has on people’s lives. However, the best medicine remains prevention. Taking steps to improve health before a stroke occurs will do a lot more good for your loved ones. If a stroke is prevented altogether, then the need for in-home care can be avoided for the time being.
If you can avoid the need for care, your quality of life will stay at a higher level for a longer period of time. It makes sense, right? This is something that is such a basic concept, yet one that requires planning ahead, so it’s often overlooked. Unfortunately, senior care isn’t something that a lot of people think about until they need to. At that point, care might be short term, but it usually isn’t.
Speak to a doctor today if you are concerned about stroke. Go over the risks and what you can do to alleviate them. By improving your health now, you can live a longer and happier life and spend more time with the people that you love. It might seem like a small step, but it will have a large impact on the future.
The post Dual-Therapy Shows Great Potential for Stroke Victims appeared first on Paradise In-Home Care.
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