In France, 130,000 strokes are recorded each year, the equivalent of one stroke every 4 minutes. It is the third leading cause of death in the country. For the majority of patients who survive, the neurological after-effects can be significant and debilitating in their daily lives (extreme fatigue, motor difficulties, balance problems, etc.).
A patient who has suffered a stroke therefore requires appropriate care. Indeed, the neurological rehabilitation Post-stroke recovery is a crucial stage for working on, among other things, brain plasticity and limiting the risk of potential complications. We invite you to explore this further in the rest of this article.
| To remember : A stroke requires specialized rehabilitation in order to limit the risk of neurological after-effects and to promote the patient's recovery. The medium and long-term after-effects of a stroke can include various disabilities, such as loss of speech, balance problems, motor and cognitive difficulties, as well as chronic fatigue. Post-stroke rehabilitation is based on several stages, from the initial assessment to the development of a personalized program, including the use of various tools to accelerate the patient's recovery. The goals of post-stroke rehabilitation are based on working on brain plasticity to promote the reorganization of neural networks and the prevention/treatment of complications. |
What is a stroke (cerebrovascular accident)?
There are two types of stroke:
- Ischemic stroke: this type of stroke is caused by the formation of a clot that blocks a small cerebral artery, preventing part of the brain from being supplied with blood and leading to the necrosis of neurons;
- Hemorrhagic stroke (or ruptured aneurysm): This type of stroke is rarer, but just as serious. It is caused by the rupture of the wall of an intracranial artery.
- It should be noted that when stroke symptoms subside spontaneously, it is then referred to as a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Generally speaking, regardless of the type of stroke a person suffers, a stroke is an absolute medical emergency. The brain, the primary motor organ, will require specialized post-stroke rehabilitation (both functional and neurological) to address any potential after-effects and allow the patient to return to a normal life.
What are the potential medium- and long-term consequences of a stroke?
After a stroke, brain damage may persist. A patient may therefore suffer from visible after-effects or certain disabilities, such as:
- a loss of speech;
- a persistent imbalance;
- difficulties holding an object, writing or walking;
- vision or digestive problems;
- muscular paralysis;
- facial paralysis;
- attention deficit disorders;
- memory loss;
- a depression;
- chronic fatigue.
Furthermore, in the context of post-stroke rehabilitation, it remains essential not to neglect or minimize signs of discomfort in the patient.
The stages of post-stroke rehabilitation
During post-stroke rehabilitation, several steps are generally followed. The first of these is an assessment of the patient's condition by a neurologist or a physical medicine specialist. This assessment should take place as soon as possible, upon hospitalization and within the first few hours after admission. This step is crucial for evaluating the patient's deficits, the severity of the stroke, and for establishing a prognosis for recovery.
Following this assessment, rehabilitation professionals are able to evaluate the patient's rehabilitation needs. This next step is necessary to confirm the recovery prognosis and identify any potential difficulties in order to establish a personalized rehabilitation program tailored to the patient's needs.
Once a post-stroke rehabilitation program is established, it is recommended to begin the process as soon as possible. Regular practice leads to much faster results. Combining the care pathway with the Allyane neuromotor reprogramming method is also a valuable factor in accelerating the patient's return to mobility and independence, depending on their potential long-term effects.
What tools are used in post-stroke rehabilitation?
Generally, several tools can be used in post-stroke rehabilitation:
- biofeedback allows for the evaluation of the patient's progress;
- Electrotherapy stimulates the muscles progressively;
- The Allyane neuromotor reprogramming method: a combination of mental imagery, proprioception and listening to low-frequency sounds can also be used to accelerate this rehabilitation.
The goals of post-stroke rehabilitation
Post-stroke rehabilitation must be carried out in collaboration with the patient and on a basis of trust. It aims to achieve two primary objectives, which we will present later in this article.
Working on brain plasticity
Research on brain plasticity relies on stimulating the brain to allow intact neural networks to reorganize. This process can thus enable these healthy networks to compensate for the role of neurons damaged by brain necrosis.
This rehabilitation phase is based on a combination of exercise intensity, frequency of repetition, variety, and adaptation to the patient's situation. The results, in turn, depend on two main parameters:
- the size and location of the stroke;
- the state of the patient's brain and vascular system prior to the stroke.
Preventing and treating potential complications
Post-stroke rehabilitation is also necessary to prevent and treat any complications resulting from this type of event. These may include, for example, paralysis, muscle hypertonia (spasticity), or pain.
The intervention of several healthcare professionals may then be required, particularly depending on the patient's symptoms. Sessions with a physiotherapist or occupational therapist may be necessary to work on the functional and neurological rehabilitation (as part of relearning a movement). In parallel, the intervention of an ophthalmologist or a speech therapist can prove to be of great help to a patient suffering from visual or verbal disorders following a stroke.
The duration of post-stroke rehabilitation is generally quite difficult to estimate, primarily because it depends largely on the patient's clinical condition. Rehabilitation exercises should nevertheless be performed regularly and at an intensity adapted to the patient's progress.
Medical recommendations for post-stroke rehabilitation
As part of the care pathway, post-stroke rehabilitation begins with a careful analysis of the patient's symptoms, as well as awareness-raising work with their family and friends.
The practitioner can then highlight the various identified causes and give the patient advice to accelerate recovery. Among the causes of stroke, researchers and doctors have identified hypertension, smoking, and cholesterol. However, other factors related to the patient's lifestyle can also be emphasized to promote recovery:
- quit smoking;
- to implement a suitable diet;
- try to reduce the sources of stress that may have led to hypertension;
- set up reminders for medical appointments and plan for backup solutions in case of extreme fatigue (medical appointment via videoconference, taxi or neighbor driving back after the appointment, etc.);
- to set up a suitable rehabilitation program;
- integrate Allyane neuromotor reprogramming sessions into the care pathway;
- taking care of oneself, in particular through sports sessions or psychological support provided by a therapist, etc.
Recovery time from a stroke: the benefits of the Allyane method
The faster a stroke or ruptured aneurysm is treated, the better the patient's chances of recovering without lasting effects.
As we mentioned previously, the success of post-stroke rehabilitation depends on 3 main parameters:
- the size and location of the area of the brain affected by the stroke;
- the patient's prior brain and vascular system condition;
- complications associated with a deficiency in patient treatment (a lack of functional or motor rehabilitation).
Post-stroke rehabilitation aims to recover from the neuronal and functional consequences induced by the stroke (the action of the brain and neurons can affect all of the patient's motor skills). Currently, it is not possible to restore destroyed neurons. However, it remains possible to train the healthy neural network to reproduce the movements, sensations, and reflexes that were previously controlled by the part of the brain damaged by the stroke. To do this, the practitioner relies on brain plasticity, and it is on this point that the Allyane method offers a valuable complement.
Physiotherapists and occupational therapists can then integrate the Allyane method into the exercises of their rehabilitation protocol. Allyane neuromotor reprogramming is based on the combination of three complementary elements:
- work on proprioceptive sensations;
- a motor imagery exercise (imagining the movement);
- listening to low-frequency sounds (associating sound with movement) emitted by a patented medical device.
You can find here our scientific publications relating to the management of post-stroke sequelae.
Are you a healthcare professional and have questions about the Allyane method? do not hesitate to contact us.