What can be done to speed up a patient’s recovery after a stroke

  After surviving hospital treatment, stroke patients are often left with some motor, sensory and language impairments. Home rehabilitation is a good and effective method after discharge, and at this time, if family members can achieve proper care, they can eliminate or reduce the functional deficits of patients, and can restore patients’ ability to live and work to the maximum.  Psychological guidance: This is an important part of home rehabilitation measures. Due to hemiplegia or aphasia, stroke patients cannot take care of themselves in daily life and often show depression, sadness, low self-esteem and other psychological states, and their personalities become irritable. Family members should show more love and understanding, meet their psychological needs and try their best to eliminate the patient’s pessimistic mood.  Passive exercise: The main function is to promote blood circulation of the limbs, maintain the mobility of the joint ligaments and reduce muscle spasm. The main operation of the limbs in the direction of the joints of passive activities. The order is large joints first, then small joints, and the amplitude of movement is from small to large. Two times a day for 30 minutes each time.  Active exercise: Active exercise is to increase the tension of the central nervous system, to activate the physiological functions of the systems and to prevent complications. Active exercise should be gradual and persistent, do not be too hasty, because the stroke led to reduced functional activity of the limbs, some of the joints and muscles in a state of disuse, the patient joint ankylosis muscle atrophy, so most patients are lazy activities, at this time, family members should supervise and assist patients to exercise. Start from single joint active movement to multi-joint movement, and drive the affected limb together as much as possible when exercising. During the functional training of sitting, standing and walking, family members should stand on the affected side of the patient, assist the patient to sit up and stand, and ask the patient to elevate the affected limb as much as possible when walking.  Daily living ability training: It is the best way to restore living ability. It includes eating and drinking, washing, dressing, self-care training, bathing, housework and walking, etc. The patient must be taken care of during the training.  Language rehabilitation training: For aphasic patients, oral and written language training should be carried out. Patients should be trained to make “ah-ah” sounds with the larynx, or cough or blow with the mouth to induce pronunciation. As the family members pronounce and say words, from easy to difficult, from short to long, step by step, the content taught should be suitable for the patient’s interest and as much as possible connected with daily life. In addition, let patients watch TV, listen to radio broadcast, etc. to give auditory and visual stimulation.  Relapse prevention: maintain emotional stability; ensure sufficient sleep time; it is advisable to eat light, low-fat, low-salt, low-cholesterol, multi-vitamin food. Avoid overeating, avoid smoking and alcohol, especially not overdrinking at dinner. Keep bowel movements smooth, pay attention to warmth, prevent colds, and pay attention to regular supervision and assistance in completing blood pressure monitoring and taking oral antihypertensive drugs as prescribed by the doctor, etc.