Stroke Gait Rehabilitation: Exercises & Recovery Strategies

Following a stroke, physical, speech and occupational therapies are normal courses of treatment for helping the patient to regain as much of her previous level of functioning as possible. In addition to the professional therapy or following its completion, the stroke patient's gait often remains impaired to varying degrees. This causes difficulties in handling day-to-day chores and increases the risk of falling. There are a number of exercises that an individual can do on her own to improve her gait after a stroke.

Things You'll Need

• Weight resistance machine
• Cycle machine
• Treadmill
• Rowing machine
• Access to a pool

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Instructions

Regaining Gait After a Stroke

• 1

  Consult with the attending physician and physical therapist regarding all exercises and therapies. These professionals will be able to help direct the exercises and therapies in the direction that is appropriate for each individual stroke patient.

• 2

  Find exercises that improve endurance, strength and range of motions. Some exercises that have been shown to be effective for stroke patients who are working on regaining their gait are:
  *cycling
  *swimming
  *rowing
  *resistance training
  *squatting exercises
  *treadmills

• 3

  Imagine walking quickly and at a good pace. Motor Imagery (MI) is a technique whereby people imagine their limbs moving. Many rehabilitation professionals believe that this helps stroke victims regain their previous walking abilities, and research shows that this may be true.

• 4

  Discuss the possibility of botulinum toxin (Botox) or baclofen injections with the attending physician. When muscles are spastic, these medications have been proved to be effective in reducing the spastic movements.