Let's heal ourselves and develop a hand after a stroke

After a stroke, the hand may partially lose sensation, become numb, stop moving, and become completely paralyzed. As soon as the patient’s condition has improved after drug treatment, rehabilitation procedures should immediately begin and the limb should be developed. If this is not done, the regeneration of nerve cells in the brain will not be complete, there will be a risk of another stroke, and the motor activity of the hand will not be fully restored.

Why doesn't my hand move?

During a stroke, the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. During an ischemic attack, blood does not flow to the tissues, and during a hemorrhagic attack, hemorrhage occurs in the brain structures. Each of these pathologies can lead to impaired motor activity of the limbs. The hand does not react to external stimuli, does not feel anything, there are no reflexes. The paralyzed limb has weak muscle tone. Paresis or paralysis of the arm after a stroke occurs on the side opposite the brain hemisphere affected by the attack.

Immobility of a limb can occur due to blockage of a vessel by a blood clot or rupture of a blood artery in the brain. Paralysis of the arm as a result of a stroke is observed in patients suffering from hypertension, atherosclerosis, obesity, and high cholesterol. Blood circulation may be impaired in the vessels of the spinal cord. Such cases are very rare, but they can lead to paralysis of the limbs.

A hemorrhagic attack occurs most often during the day. In addition to paresis or paralysis of the arm, the patient may have speech impairment, the person often loses consciousness, he may have breathing problems, convulsions, hyperesthesia, and vomiting. The limb may be sore, swollen, swollen, and shaky.

An ischemic attack occurs at any time of the day. It develops gradually. First, the patient's arm goes numb and loses consciousness, then his cheek, and then problems with speech are observed. A person becomes weak, tired, depressed, sleeps poorly, and his memory deteriorates.

Most often, the hand goes numb and stops listening when the right hemisphere of the brain and the cerebellum itself are affected. Here are the nerve centers responsible for the motor activity of the limb. Painful symptoms do not appear as intensely if the stroke occurred further away from the right side of the brain. Often the hand does not work well due to poor circulation after an attack. Impaired functioning of the heart muscle prevents the flow of blood to the tissues.

What to do with your hand

If after a stroke your right or left arm does not work, you should contact a specialist and undergo several physiotherapeutic procedures and special treatment. To restore the functionality of a paralyzed limb, it is necessary to carry out psychological and physical rehabilitation.

First of all, a person needs to develop a positive attitude towards life. The patient must hope for a positive result and believe in his healing. It is impossible to restore the functionality of your hand with positive thoughts alone. A complex of physiotherapeutic procedures, as well as drug treatment, is required.

In case of a right-sided stroke, it is better for a person to undergo a rehabilitation course in a hospital setting or a special center. The activity of the left limb can be restored with the help of drug therapy, massage, therapeutic exercises, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, clay modeling, dough and plasticine. If after a stroke your right arm does not work well, then you can develop it yourself at home under the supervision of a doctor using exactly the same methods.

After an attack, the left limb recovers over a long period of time - about six months. The situation is worse for older people. If a limb does not work for a long time, the muscles gradually atrophy. A person has to relearn how to use his hand. Restorative procedures must be started as soon as possible, otherwise the blood may stagnate. If oxygen and nutrients do not reach the tissues for some time, new hematomas and blood clots may appear.

Forecast

It often takes a lot of time to restore mobility - on average from six months to a year, but this does not guarantee a complete recovery, especially if there are repeated attacks and non-compliance with the regime. However, gymnastics after a stroke helps to cope with paresis and paralysis and restore lost limb functions, especially if the lesions are minor and the patient is quite young. Elderly patients recover more slowly due to the deterioration of their body, but even their fine motor skills can be restored with the help of constant persistent exercises.

In treating the consequences of a stroke, two things are important - speed of response and persistence. A person can do a lot, including recovering from the most serious illness.

Rehabilitation methods

As soon as the patient’s condition has stabilized, it is necessary to begin rehabilitation of the immobilized limb. Bedridden patients will need the help of nurses and physical therapists who know how to develop an arm after a stroke. An individual course is selected for each patient, which includes therapeutic exercises, reflexology, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, diet, modeling, medication, and treatment of chronic diseases.

How to restore an immobilized limb:

• stimulate the desire to move with the help of simple exercises (bend and straighten your fingers, clench a fist, take small objects, grab a hanging towel, raise your arms up, spread them to the sides, write, sculpt, draw);
• the patient should try to eat, cover himself, dress, wash himself;
• massage is performed to avoid blood stagnation and blockage of blood vessels (the procedure is combined with rubbing and various warming compresses);
• using special devices, acupuncture is performed to send electrical charges from the brain to the hand and make it move;
• in the morning, do exercises using exercise equipment to strengthen muscles and develop joints (lift dumbbells, bend your elbows with them), it is recommended to swim in the pool;
• conduct electrical stimulation to increase muscle tone, the procedure improves blood circulation and relieves pain.

Rehabilitation exercises are carried out 2-3 times a day, physiotherapeutic procedures - once a day for 2-4 months. The duration of each rehabilitation session should be a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 60 minutes.

Hand rehabilitation exercises

A patient who has suffered a stroke is recommended to train his fingers first. Working with them helps activate brain functions to restore hand movements.

1. Rub and stretch each finger for 15 seconds.
2. Sit down, place your palms on your thighs, spreading your fingers as far apart as possible. Raise each of them up, starting with the little finger and ending with the big one. Then turn your hands over with your palms up and do the same. Repeat the exercise at least 10 times. The worse it gets, the more time you need to devote to such exercises.
3. Sit down, place your palms on your hips, closer to your knees. Rotate your fingers one by one. Turn your palms over and continue doing gymnastics with your fingers. This exercise trains fine motor skills, and this has a positive effect on brain function. Should be performed 7 times.
4. Spread all your fingers as far apart as possible, then clench them into a fist. Repeat such exercises to restore your arm 5 times.
5. In a sitting or lying position, work with your toes. First, pull them towards you, spread them out, then tilt them in the opposite direction and squeeze them. The exercise is repeated 10 times.
6. Clasp your hands and lift your fingers one by one. For example, a large one on the right hand, then on the left. Having finished on the little fingers, the exercise is continued in reverse order 10 times.
7. Click your fingers one at a time, starting with your thumb and index finger. The exercise is repeated 5 times.

Doctors recommend using special accessories to warm up your fingers. There are massage balls that resemble a hedgehog. They can be transferred from the right hand to the left, massage the hands and fingers. Every day, a stroke victim should exercise with this ball for at least 3 minutes.

The recovery of the right hand is positively influenced by an exercise with two balls that can be rolled in the palm of your hand.

How to develop a paralyzed hand

If the mobility of the arm is completely lost, the patient needs the help of an outsider. At the very beginning, an assistant should smoothly bend and unbend the paralyzed limb. The hand, elbow and shoulder are developed. After a while, the patient should independently perform simple gymnastic exercises.

It is better to do physical exercises with your eyes closed. The patient needs to relax. Exercises are performed sitting or lying down.

During exercise, the patient must remember how he moved his arm before paralysis. Then you need to try to “impose” memories on the affected limb. The patient should try to move at least one finger.

If at first nothing works out, you should not despair and stop training. Each time the result will improve. It must be remembered that recovery of the hand after an attack is a very slow process that takes a long period of time.

How to deal with muscle spasticity:

• change the position of the sore arm every 60 minutes;
• do stretching exercises throughout the day and stretch your joints;
• monitor the air temperature in the room, it should be no lower than 23 degrees;
• constantly stroke your hand;
• Before starting classes, your fingers need to be stretched and rubbed for one minute.

Exercises can be passive, that is, performed with the help of strangers, or active - the patient does the exercises independently. You can only help at the very beginning of rehabilitation. All exercises are done while exhaling.

How to conduct recovery exercises:

• exercises should be started with a healthy arm in order to activate the areas responsible for the mobility of the limbs;
• if classes are conducted with the help of an assistant, the patient must mentally repeat all movements;
• exercises change every day;
• during training, you can use household items or special exercise equipment and devices;
• first, flexion and extension exercises are performed for large muscles, then fine motor skills are developed;
• the patient needs to develop the will and, despite the pain, do gymnastics daily and in full;
• After simple exercises, they move on to strength training and more complex exercises, during which coordination and memory are further developed.

How to give an effective massage:

• you need to start the procedure with a healthy hand, and then move on to the sick one;
• duration – from 12 to 60 minutes;
• massage is done 1-2 times a day;
• movements are smooth and rubbing;
• always move from the center to the edges;
• you need to work with your fingers to activate the nerves of the brain;
• each finger is kneaded separately;
• during the massage you can give the patient a bubble ball;
• during the procedure, a person can spread his fingers and clench them into a fist;
• The shoulder muscles are necessarily developed so that the patient can raise his arm up and down.

Simple exercises for every day:

• clenching your fingers into a fist and straightening them;
• flexion and extension of the limb at the elbow joint;
• rotation with a brush;
• clapping hands;
• pressing on fingers;
• pressing your palms to the table or to each other;
• grasping an object;
• rolling a ball on the table.

To perform movements with the hand, the hand must first rest on the table. When she gets stronger, you can do exercises without support.

After a month, you can do strength training every day to restore your arm. Rehabilitation exercises should involve the shoulder, elbow, hand, and wrist. Physical education is performed twice a day. Each exercise must be done 10 times. The patient can develop the affected arm simultaneously with the healthy one. You can do the exercises one by one. In this case, start training with a healthy hand. The objects used during physical education should not be too heavy. All exercises, like movements after a stroke, are done smoothly and slowly.

Shoulder and forearm workout:

• take dumbbells, bend your elbows, straighten and raise them up, bend them again at the elbow, lower them down;
• take dumbbells, raise your straight arms to shoulder height, move them in different directions, lower them down.

To develop your shoulders, you need to use horizontal bars in addition to dumbbells. It is recommended to rotate by hand. Muscles are best developed in the pool.

Exercise for elbows:

• lean forward, bend your elbows back;
• take dumbbells, raise your arms to shoulder height, spread them to the sides, bend them at the elbows, lift them up, bend them at the elbows again, lower them down.

To develop your elbows, you need to lift dumbbells and rotate your arms. It is recommended to use exercise machines and horizontal bars. It is useful to alternately tense and relax your hand. During physical education, you should not overdo it, otherwise you can stretch the ligaments.

Wrist workout:

• take dumbbells, bend your elbows at an angle of 90 degrees in front of you, twist your hands up and down;
• take dumbbells, keep your arms straight and motionless, raise your wrists up and down.

There are many muscles and joints in the wrist area. The development of this part of the hand is very long and complex. To strengthen your wrist, you need to draw, write, sculpt, do gymnastics with dumbbells, or a rubber exercise machine.

Exercises for the whole arm after a stroke:

• kneading, stroking and rubbing fingers;
• swing your arms, twist your body;
• put your palms on your knees, spread your fingers, move them, clench them into a fist, turn your palms up, spread your fingers, move them, clench them into a fist;
• rotation with all fingers in turn;
• clasp your hands together, try to tear all your fingers off your hands one by one;
• take a rubber band, raise your arms in front of you to shoulder height and try to stretch the band.

Limb development equipment:

• Rubik's cube - stretches fingers, strengthens hand muscles, improves fine motor skills;
• plasticine, clay, construction set - develop fingers, wrist, contribute to faster recovery of the hand;
• chess, checkers - develop memory, activate brain cells, improve attention;
• dumbbells, tourniquets, rubber exercise machines, pimply balls - strengthen and develop muscles;
• picking up scattered buttons and matches improves finger motor skills.

Rehabilitation takes a long time. To fully restore a hand, a person needs to be persistent and not lose heart during the first failure. If you follow the recommendations of a specialist and regularly do gymnastics, the activity of the paralyzed limb will soon be restored. Rehabilitation of the hand after an attack is carried out at the Nekrasovka hospital.

Restoring the hand after a stroke

At home, by the way, you can effectively develop your hand so that it begins to “obey” you. There is a misconception that the hand is a useless part, but even the smallest training after a stroke will help it and the hand as a whole recover.

Since in this article we are looking at recovery methods without external help, but only at home, I have identified several:

1. Maximum possible flexion/extension of the hand. At first it will be difficult, almost impossible, but then the process will bring some pleasure. It is very important to flex and extend well because these are related functions.
2. Passive gymnastics. Ask your loved ones to design the brush. This practice will definitely produce results, because it is a sure impetus to the beginning of the neuroplastic process. Gradually, of course, you will need to abandon them, otherwise you will not be able to fully work with a brush.
3. Viewing the bend/bend in the mirror. Imitating the fact that the healthy side is like the “sick” side allows the patient to begin performing the usual movements of the real “sick” side much faster. You need to stand in front of the mirror and watch how the “healthy” hand moves the way you want. Then, after the process, you need to try to do the same actions, but with the affected hand. Self-hypnosis works not only for jealous women, but also for those who want to get rid of a stroke.

Drug treatment

Treatment of an immobilized hand after an attack is carried out under the supervision of a doctor and in accordance with his recommendations. He prescribes medications to the patient individually and sets the dosage. Self-medication is prohibited.

How to restore a paralyzed arm after a stroke with the help of medications:

• Baclofen – relieves spasms, relaxes muscles, relieves pain, makes limbs mobile;
• Tizanidin-Teva – relieves pain, relieves spasms;
• Klonopin, Valium - relax muscles, reduce spasticity;
• Phenol – relieves pain, spasms, relaxes muscles.

The patient is also prescribed antibiotics, painkillers, blood purifiers, vitamins, coagulants, neurostimulants, nootropics, and general restoratives. The following drugs are popular: Glycine, Aspirin, Actovegin, Papaverine, Pirocetam, Neuromidin, Vinpocetine. First, it is necessary to treat the damaged area of ​​the brain, after which the motor activity of the hand is normalized.

Restoring finger movements after a stroke

Fundamentally, you will not see anything new to improve the situation with your fingers if you have considered the issue of the hand.

The only thing you can do is perform additional exercises:

1. Take a tennis ball and hold it. You need to finger it in your hand for 5-10 minutes. Then give your fingers a rest and repeat this process 5-6 times in this mode.
2. The expander, which athletes love so much, also helps well in restoring the movements of the fingers.

Again, you need to do everything gradually, you don’t need to load your fingers right away. The correct approach to this matter will allow you to get a positive result, but you will also have to make efforts, and considerable ones. The desire to recover and the mental component play a special role. Believe in yourself and that you can do anything, because... After a stroke it is very difficult to cope with paresis of the limbs, but it is quite possible.

The consequences of a stroke are different in each specific case. These may be speech impairments, memory impairments, or damage to the upper extremities. An experienced specialist will tell you how to restore your arm after a stroke. In such cases, not only medications are used, but also special exercises and simulators that you should know about.