Treatment Centre
Neurological Teaching CentreStroke
A stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is caused by an interruption to the blood flow to the brain tissue.
It will only be called a stroke if it is of sudden onset (at a stroke) and the symptoms last for more than 24 hours.
Sometimes there may be a very small interruption in blood flow where symptoms only last a few hours or less and full recovery occurs. This is known as a T.I.A. or transient ischaemic attack. A stroke can be caused by a blood clot (ischaemic stroke) or by a bleed (haemorrhagic stroke). The immediate medical treatment will be dependent on which type of stroke you have had. With a bleed the need is to stop bleeding whereas with a clot the need is to break down the clot. The area of the brain that has been affected will determine the symptoms you will experience.
In general terms the right side of the brain will control the left side of the body and vice versa therefore damage to the right side of the brain will result in the left side of the body being affected.
When a person has a stroke the effects can be wide ranging, they include problems with speech, understanding, movement and balance. The problems may lead to weakness and even apparent paralysis as well as disturbed sensation, perception and vision. The muscles of the face and those used for swallowing can also be affected and lead to weakness or facial paralysis (hemifacial paralysis). However physiotherapy can have positive effects with many of these problems.
Neuro-Physiotherapy at MNC uses the Bobath concept where assessment of postural control and knowledge of normal movement is an integral part of treatment planning for stroke rehabilitation.
All the physiotherapists at MNC are highly skilled in the Bobath concept and will create an individually tailored treatment programme for each patient that will include treatment goals, outcome measures to track progress and often a personalised home exercise programme.
Overall a stroke can be devastating not only for the patient but for their family and carers too and this is why all the therapists at Manchester Neurotherapy are committed to improving a patient's quality of life via the treatment they provide.