A new study from Oxford Brookes University indicates that there may be a link between walking speed after a stroke and how completely someone can recover. On average, individuals who walked faster after they suffered from a stroke were much more likely to make a full recovery than individuals that struggled to maintain a faster speed while walking.
Additionally, the research indicated that helping someone to improve their walking speed also helped to spur on stroke recovery. Dual-task walking has been used in the past as a therapy method for those recovering from a stroke, and speed walking helps with the same aspects of recovery. Dual-task walking is simply walking while doing something else, such as carrying on a conversation or planning ahead for the day. This stimulates the brain in a different manner than just one activity can, helping to create new neural pathways. This is an essential step in the healing process. Unfortunately, many stroke survivors never get to this point in the recovery process.
Helping to improve walking speed might sound simple, but it seemingly helps spur along recovery in other areas, too. It’s common for people that have suffered a stroke to struggle with two tasks at one time, especially if one task involves thinking. This study reveals a method that quicker walking might improve this. It’s certainly not easy to accomplish these things after a stroke occurs, but this method may provide an easier solution for some. In fact, past research has indicated that this method is just as effective for helping with stroke recovery as other, more intensive therapies.
Walking is an important part of getting around the house safely. But it’s a lot more than this, too. If you have a loved one that wants to maintain their independence, they need to be able to cross a street or get through a grocery store safely. Even if they are in a motorized wheelchair, awareness and being able to perceive and avoid dangerous situations (like traffic) is crucial for safety. This might not be possible directly after a stroke, so being aware of this need, and compensating for it, is important.
This is where senior care can be a huge help. Your loved one doesn’t need to move into a nursing home to receive senior care, though. In fact, the care necessary to safely recover from a stroke might be able to be administered right in your loved one’s home. In-home care is designed to meet your loved one where they are and help them without drastically changing their daily routine. Rather than relocate, care comes to them and helps them by adding an extra level of support while they continue to navigate daily tasks and keep their independence.
Senior care is an essential component of improving and protecting health as someone ages. If you’d like to learn more about how in-home care can benefit your family after a stroke or another health event, give us a call. We’d love to talk more about what we do and how it might help.
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