Stroke

If you or a loved one has had a stroke, there may be permanent loss of function on one or both sides of the body. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of your brain is disturbed or reduced, robbing brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. A stroke can occur because of a clot or actual bleeding inside the brain. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. As a result, the affected area of the brain is unable to function, causing symptoms like the inability to move an extremity, labored speech, and headache. Treatment for a stroke is both immediate and ongoing. Ongoing treatment is usually referred to as stroke rehabilitation.

Because the effects of a stroke feel permanent, it is hard to imagine that help for a stroke is possible.

A Feldenkrais approach to stroke treatment takes the following neuroanatomy into consideration:

• Areas of the brain responsible for specific functions are vastly underused.
• The body has a way to communicate right and left (corpus collosum) the functional efforts of the unaffected side. This allows the affected side to have a “model” of function from which to learn.
• New neural connections around areas of damaged brain can be formed, a process called neuroplasticity.
• These new connections respond to stimuli in much the same way as the old connections, restoring lost function.

Have you had PT and OT and still feel room for improvement? You will receive Feldenkrais therapy and exercises that involve the whole body, to improve function, optimize mobility, and eliminate any pain that may be present. At the Feldenkrais Center, our approach to treating your stroke allows a faster and more complete recovery than traditional treatments. Many patients report substantial relief with each session. So why suffer? Improve your abilities today.

Call Lori Malkoff, MD for a free phone consultation.