4.16 Post-Stroke Flashcards
Even after a minor stroke, pts are at a higher risk for
falls
What may predispose stroke patients for being a higher fall risk?
- foot drop
- vestibular issues
- visual field issues
- tilting to one side
- sensory issues/kinesthetic awareness
foot drop compensations
- steppage gait
- if they can’t do that, they will drag their foot
foot slap cause
dorsiflexors can’t control the foot strike (flat foot landing)
problem with weak dorsiflexors
walking a long distance and they can’t go through full ROM, dorsiflexors wear out
Why do stroke pts tilt to one side often?
COG is off
In addition to being fall risks, what else are common with stroke pts?
- fractures
- skin breakdown
- head injury
- cardiovascular issues
- psychosocial problems
Why do they get skin breakdown?
- no motor function and can’t move
- no sensory function (don’t weight shift)
- muscle imbalance
What may cause muscle imbalances?
spasticity
What happens if hypertonia on affected side is not dealt with in PT?
puts them in a contracted position
What is one of the most important things to try to get back?
cardiovascular fitness
common psychosocial issues following stroke
- depression
- emotionally labile
Why do stroke synergies happen?
- something coming back from rudimentary reflexes (this is just where it comes from deep in the neuro system)
UE stroke synergy is similar to
similar position to withdrawing from touching something hot
LE stroke synergy
one flexes, the other extends
