Medication and physical therapy sessions are the most common treatment recourse for stroke. However, research reveals that physiotherapy techniques including massage, acupuncture, and yoga are also effective in stroke rehabilitation. In addition, these therapies provide relief, improves a person’s mobility, and elevates the mood.
Take a look at these 5 alternative therapies in detail:
1. Yoga: Improves Balance and Coordination
Many patients will experience decreased range of motion following a stroke. Getting into yoga can help enhance your balance and coordination. A study found out that people who’ve had a stroke and undergone yoga for 8 weeks improved their stability and felt emotionally regulated.
Stretching, core strengthening, and balancing exercises during yoga therapy also helped them to move independently and gradually return to their normal activities.
2. Massage: Enhances Motor Skills
Massage involves the manipulation of body tissues to enhance a person’s well-being. Massage therapy is performed to increase the flow of blood to muscles that were affected by stroke. This helps decrease pain and improve muscle movement.
A North York physiotherapy clinic would tell you that among the wonderful benefits of massage therapy to stroke patients include improved mood, better sleep, and significant pain reduction. Research also shows that a string of massage sessions can improve fine motor skills such as writing, grasping objects, and typing.
3. Acupuncture: Diminishes Pain and Depression
The use of acupuncture for a number of ailments dates back to ancient Chinese medicine. An acupuncturist penetrates the skin with thread-like needles and it is considered a promising treatment recourse to promote stroke recovery.
Studies point out that acupuncture can help minimize pain and improve physical and mental functions in stroke patients. It’s proven effectiveness in stroke rehabilitation is one of the reasons why the practice of acupuncture has been around in China for thousands of years.
How does acupuncture facilitate the healing process? The insertion of needles sends corrective signals to the nervous system to stimulate healing and firing off nerve impulses in the brain and spinal cord. Acupuncture can also improve stroke and migraine conditions by relaxing the muscles and reducing pain.
Make sure to conduct your treatment with a licensed acupuncturist, or someone who is trained and skilled to perform acupuncture to improve a number of health problems.
4. Aromatherapy: Reduces Stress
Massaging using essential oils and plant extracts also has profound effects in relaxing a stressed out and tensed body. Aromatherapy can help address anxiety, depression, pain, and migraine.
Aromatherapy is not only a beneficial therapy option on how to prevent neck pain or other pain reliefs but also for people suffering from stroke. Among its benefits include reduced mental and physical stress, deeper sleep, and a lighter mood.
5. Tai Chi: Improves Balance
This ancient Chinese exercise focuses on stretches, deep breathing, and slow movements. In tai chi, a person learns to use their mind and body together to execute coordinated movements. You get to do one posture at a time and flow to the next.
The practice of synching your mind and body throughout the exercise helps stroke patients to train their balance. An improved balance was found to lower incidents of fall in people with stroke and Parkinson’s disease, according to a study published in the Clinical Rehabilitation journal.
Additional Reminders
Stroke rehab must be paired with a health lifestyle. Exercise and proper diet will help speed up your recovery and lower the risk of another stroke.
- Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels. Both depend on your age and medical history.
- Maintain a healthy weight (less than 31.5 inches of waist circumference for females and less than 37 inches for males).
- Eat more fruits, vegetables, legumes, and healthy oils. Cut back on fat and sodium.
- Stay active. Get into daily exercises like walking and jogging for at least 30 minutes a day for 4 days a week.
