Cognitive Therapy After Stroke
Cognitive therapy after stroke is a treatment designed to help those affected by stroke improve their memory, thinking and other mental functions. The purpose of this type of therapy is to enable individuals to return to normal lifestyles while increasing quality of life. It may also alleviate anxiety or depression that can come along with a stroke.
A stroke is an event that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or bursts, causing brain cells to die or be damaged. This damage may lead to various disabilities that affect how someone thinks, feels, communicates and moves.
After a stroke, it’s essential to identify which areas of your brain were affected and what caused the damage. Doing this will enable both you and your doctor to create an individualized recovery plan.
Before beginning therapy sessions with your therapist, it is necessary for you to take some neuropsychological tests. This will give your therapist insight into your current cognitive function and where attention should be focused.
Cognitive exercises can help improve memory, thought processing and other mental functions. Some of the more popular ones include meditation, mindfulness and yoga – all effective techniques that promote clear thinking and focus on the task at hand.
These techniques can be done independently or with the guidance of a therapist. A therapist will assist in setting goals and devising strategies to reach them.
Meditation, yoga and other mind-body practices can improve focus while relieving stress and anxiety. Furthermore, these practices have the added bonus of increasing mental flexibility and information processing.
Cognitive therapy after stroke may involve learning new strategies to remember information and retraining your brain to do things differently. These skills can boost confidence levels and self-reliance.
Therapy using laser therapy is often combined with other treatments like medicine or surgery. Depending on the severity of your stroke, you may require medication or surgery to improve physical health and enhance cognitive abilities.
You may find a patient support group or medical center in your area that can offer assistance and advice. Additionally, there are plenty of online resources to aid with rehabilitation.
Practice these techniques and exercises is essential to aid in your recovery, as well as promote an active, healthy lifestyle. It is recommended to do them at least three times a week for approximately six months.
There are a range of apps and tools that can be used to practice cognitive exercises. They can be downloaded onto computers, tablets or smartphones for easy access and contain games, activities and exercises designed specifically with stroke survivors in mind that will aid with visual/spatial processing, analytical thinking and other areas of the brain.
Cognitive therapy after stroke can provide great advantages, helping patients lead an active, healthy lifestyle. These exercises may even be beneficial to those experiencing depression or anxiety as a result of their stroke.