Strokes can have devastating results upon the lives of anyone that has one, both in the elderly and in younger folk. While treatment has improved remarkably over the last five years, they are still one of the biggest concerns in the medical community simply because they can be so difficult to treat if not detected right away. A stroke can lead to a lifelong disability, and can take a seemingly healthy individual and instantly give them a need for intensive senior care. Recovery can occur, but it doesn’t always. Even those who have minor strokes may need in-home care from time to time to help them with basic daily tasks.
In short, a stroke can completely disrupt not just the lifestyle of the one who suffers from it, but the entire family. Luckily, even more research has emerged from this field showing a little bit more hope for those that are grappling with the disability that so often results from having a stroke. Researchers have found that while physical therapy does not actually repair any sort of neurological damage that oxygen interruption to the brain causes, it can help restore physical function. And this can be achieved through the use of new technology like immersive video games.
In younger generations, video games are a way of life for some. But in the elderly, this type of technology typically is ignored. It’s not a source of entertainment for older individuals simply because they have never tried to use it. However, this study points to the idea that this unfamiliarity with electronic games could be exactly what helps stroke victims when they use them.
Strokes are caused in one of a few different ways. The most prevalent type of stroke is an ischemic stroke, when a blood vessel to the brain is blocked. Hemorrhagic strokes also are common. These occur when a blood vessel to the brain is ruptured. Both can cause chronic or permanent disability, with symptoms ranging from partial to complete paralysis, speech difficulty, balance and motor skill loss, and other problems. The sooner a stroke is treated, the less of a chance these issues have to become permanent ones. Therapy is often a helpful tool when it comes to speeding up recovery, although this varies from person to person.
While things like traditional physical therapy or active video games cannot repair the brain cells that were originally damaged in the stroke itself, these activities can help improve motor skills. Someone with a permanent disability can often recover enough functioning that they can avoid going to the nursing home and maintain high levels of independence with other types of care. The important thing to note here is that people who have suffered a stroke can often regain some or all of their physical functioning. This doesn’t mean that it is easy; physical therapy of any sort is often a grueling and painful process. However, by finding that there is benefit in “fun” things like video games, those professionals tasked with helping with stroke recovery can make the process just a little bit easier for those going through it.
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