Arm and Hand Exercises for Stroke Rehab

Arm and Hand Exercises for Stroke Rehab

Arm and Hand Exercises for Stroke Rehab

Regaining use of your arm after a stroke may feel like a daunting task. Among other things, your brain must relearn skills it lost when it was damaged by the stroke.

Recent research, though, shows that the brain is amazingly resilient. It is capable of adapting and increasing activity after a stroke. This means it is possible to regain more use of the arm than was previously thought.

After a Stroke: Medications to Reduce Arm Spasticity

When it comes to stroke rehabilitation, one medication doesn’t fit all. Your stroke rehab team will work with you to find out which medications, if any, can help you regain control of your extremities after a stroke. It's important to remember these medications are not a cure. They are ongoing treatments that relieve the symptoms of spasticity. "There are no medications that have been well proven -- in large, well-designed clinical trials -- to directly help with motor rehabilitation beyond their...

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Recovering use of your arm does bring special challenges, though -- different than those experienced with the leg, says Susan Ryerson PT, ScD, owner of Making Progress, a physical therapy business. Ryerson has specialized in post-stroke recovery for more than 40 years with a special interest in rehab for arms. With the leg, she says, it's easier. Getting out of a chair forces the leg to work.

"But you don’t have to do anything with the arm because you have the other one to use," Ryerson says. "In the beginning, it's easier to do things with your 'good' arm. So you develop a behavioral pattern of nonuse." But because early muscle activation is critical to good recovery, you should be devoting as much time to getting your arm to work as your leg, she says.

What to Expect During Stroke Rehab for Your Arm

Your stroke rehabilitation program involves working with a team to guide you. This usually includes physical and occupational therapists. The rehab team will likely recommend combining a variety of exercises and other techniques to help you regain use of your arm. Two big goals of stroke rehab are to enhance muscle control and reduce spasticity. This is a constant contraction of muscles that can lead to pain and other problems.

Stroke rehabilitation for your hand and arm includes passive movements or exercises that are movements done with the help of a therapist and more active exercises you do with little or no assistance. In addition to moving your body often into different positions, you also relearn how to do basic tasks like bathing or dressing.

Fatigue after stroke is common -- occurring in about 40% of patients. And, some fatigue may linger, meaning you will need to adapt your daily routine. Allow plenty of time to rest before and after exercise sessions. It may also help to be active during times of the day when you have more energy. Set realistic goals for increasing strength and regaining use of your arm after a stroke.

Stretching Arm Exercises After a Stroke

Stretching is especially important for reducing spasticity. "Stretching should be used not as an alternative to medications, but as a foundation," says Joel Stein, MD, director of the rehabilitation medicine service and physiatrist-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. "Patients that are very meticulous about it can often manage with substantial spasticity but not get into trouble with contractures, skin issues, or pain."