Stroke

the definition :
A stroke occurs as a result of blockage or bursting of an artery in the brain. which prevents blood from reaching the brain, It is one of the most common neurological diseases, especially among the elderly.
Sudden hemiplegia is one of the most important and clear symptoms of strokes, which should not be ignored. As you must quickly go to the nearest medical center to receive emergency treatment.

Symptoms:

Paralysis or lack of feeling in the areas of the face, arm and leg, Especially if it is on one side of the body.

Difficulty speaking or understanding.
Blurry vision in one or both eyes.
Inability to walk and loss of balance.
Severe headache and feeling nauseous.

Factors that contribute to stroke:

– Overweight.
– Drug and alcohol addiction.
Direct and indirect smoking.
– diabetic.
Sickle cell disease
Diseases of blood vessels and heart.
Genetics and family history factor.

treatment:

The method of treatment is chosen according to the type of stroke, as there are:
Medication treatment: Some of them are in the first six hours of infection and are blood thinners or clot dissolvers that are given to the patient intravenously to improve blood flow and delivery to the brain.
Surgical intervention: This is to remove the blockage through a catheter that is inserted through the thigh, after which a device is passed that is directed to the damaged artery in the brain.

Physiotherapy and rehabilitation: After dissolving the blockage or thrombosis, the patient needs a program of physical therapy and functional rehabilitation to regain his functional abilities again, such as movement, speech, feeding, and the ability to control the bladder, as these functions are often affected by brain strokes.

The main component of the neurophysiotherapy program is the continuous and repeated exercise that focuses on a specific goal until its function is restored, based on a set of exercises, namely:
Motor skill exercises: These exercises aim to strengthen the muscles and re-coordinate the movements of these muscles. Studies have proven the importance of these exercises in preventing the transfer of stroke damage that affected certain areas to other areas that were not affected in the beginning. Where motor exercises rewire the circuits of the brain and stimulate them with a process known as plasticity of the brain (Neuroplasticity).

Movement recovery training: It aims to restore the patient’s ability to walk by using auxiliary tools such as a brace and a wheelchair at first until he regains normal walking on his own.

Force therapy: Where the healthy limbs are tied up and the affected limb is exercised in movement to strengthen its motor functions.

Range of motion therapy: Exercising certain muscles and tissues to get rid of the spasm and thus restore the organ’s full range of motion.

Functional electrical stimulation: Where weak muscles are stimulated using electrical devices, which leads to their contraction and thus muscle rehabilitation.

Virtual reality therapy: This is done by playing some video games that simulate reality and push the patient to interact with them, and thus the interaction of the affected muscles.
Activity monitor therapy: Which helps increase muscle and tissue activity after a stroke.

hemiplegia

the definition
The term hemiplegia refers to complete paralysis of one half of the body. This includes the face, hand and leg on the same side of the body. Sometimes the brain is not completely injured; So the paralysis of the body is partial.

symptoms
Muscle spasm and stiffness
Inability to control when trying to hold things
Imbalance and gait disturbances
Memory disorders and difficulty concentrating

The most important causes of hemiplegia:

– brain attack
– Brain inflammation
Accident or sudden blow to the brain
– DNA
Brain tumors

treatment

The paralysis of the body leads to the relaxation of the affected half, which leads to injury to the muscles and ligaments in the affected part. After the relaxation phase, the situation develops in the following weeks into nervous tension. Therefore, a physiotherapist must intervene quickly after the condition has stabilized and the cause of paraplegia is treated. This is a strategy based on several points:
– Therapeutic exercises such as free exercises
Walking exercises between two parallel bars in front of a mirror
– Hydrotherapy that enhances the patient’s movement based on the laws of buoyancy.
Functional electrical stimulation: Where weak muscles are stimulated using electrical devices, which leads to their contraction and thus muscle rehabilitation.
– Cold and heat therapy to treat muscle tension.

Trigeminal neuralgia
the definition
Severe bouts of pain affecting the face, similar to an electric shock. It comes in the form of seizures and is often caused by some stimulus such as very cold air, brushing teeth and eating certain foods.
symptoms
Severe pain, such as tingling of electricity in the face, that lasts for several seconds.
Sometimes the pain progresses to cramping.
– Pain that appears on one side of the face and rarely appears on both sides.

Causes of trigeminal neuralgia

Damage to the myelin sheath due to the presence of a blood vessel pressing on it, which leads to irritation of the nerve.
Diseases such as multiple sclerosis
Tumors that put pressure on the nerve
– brain attack
– Some accidents may lead to nerve injury.
Seventh nerve infection

the definition

Temporary paralysis of the seventh nerve as a result of inflammation of the nerve pathway, The seventh nerve is responsible for the facial muscles, and this paralysis causes the facial muscles to stop on either side.

Symptoms of seventh nerve infection

Inability to move half of the face
– Inability to close the eye
Falling of water when drinking from the affected side
Tears from the eye on the affected side
Pull the mouth in the right direction
– a headache

Causes of seventh nerve infection.

– Polyps
Type 2 diabetes.
– Low body immunity due to viral infection.
Herpes that causes mouth ulcers may also lead to neuritis.
– Infectious mumps disease.
Rubella.
Facial paralysis due to stroke.
– Smallpox.
Fire belt.

Treatment of seventh and fifth nerve infection

Al-Maleh prescribes some types of medications that speed up recovery, such as steroids and antivirals. And some types of ointments and drops.

Then comes the role of physiotherapy. Where the specialist evaluates the strength of the facial muscles on the affected side, Determine the necessary techniques and exercises to stop the pain and rehabilitate the muscles so that they return to their normal function. Such as:

– Treating pain either using infrared rays, or short waves.
Stimulation and electrical stimulation or laser stimulation of the muscles of the affected side to activate the nerves and muscles.
Stimulation of the muscles through the use of ice (Ice strokes).
– stimulate blood circulation in the affected side of the face, using hot compresses, And then do a special facial massage in a specific way.
Applying some special exercises in front of the mirror to rehabilitate the muscles. And repeat it constantly.

Parkinson’s disease
the definition
It is a disease that occurs as a result of wear or neurodegeneration, Where brain cells, especially those responsible for dopamine production, deteriorate and result in movement disorders.
It should be noted that there is no cure for this disease. But there are treatments to control it and reduce its symptoms.

symptoms

– Shiver
Speech difficulties
Rigidity of facial expressions accompanied by drooling
Slow movement and walking difficulties
Sudden braking of the movement and thus the recurrence of the fall
Urinary incontinence and loss of control over urination.
Memory loss that progresses to dementia.
Anxiety and depression.

Causes of Parkinson’s disease

Science has not reached a specific and clear cause of Parkinson’s disease, but there are factors that may increase the possibility of developing it, such as:
Genetics.
Exposure to pollutants and toxins such as pesticides and weed killers.
– Infection of the nervous system with viral infections.
Some head injuries.

Physiotherapy program to reduce Parkinson’s symptoms

Along with surgical and medical treatments comes the role of physiotherapy, which helps the patient to control tremors and improve movement and muscle and nerve functions through a rehabilitation program based on several points:

Doing some therapeutic exercises such as walking, swimming, water aerobics, or stretching exercises to improve balance and return movement better.
– Therapeutic massage or massage to reduce muscle and nerve tension and achieve a feeling of relaxation for the patient.
– Movement exercises that improve the patient’s motor abilities and restore self-confidence, and thus contribute to reducing the development of symptoms of the disease.

MS multiple sclerosis

the definition

in multiple sclerosis, The immune system attacks the fatty substance (myelin) that covers and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. It causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body, Eventually, the disease can cause permanent nerve damage or deterioration.

symptoms

Signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary widely. and it depends on the amount of nerve damage, And which nerves are affected. Some people with severe MS may lose the ability to walk on their own or completely. Others may go through long periods of remission without any new symptoms. Perhaps the most important general symptoms of the disease:

numbness or weakness in one or more extremities that usually occurs on one side of the body at a time, or legs and torso.
– Electric tingling with movements in the neck, such as bending the neck forward.
Pain and tingling all over the body.
Tremor and imbalance in movement and gait.
– Double vision for a long time or partial or total loss of vision accompanied by pain in the eye when moving it.
General weakness and feeling dizzy.
Speech disorders.
Weakness in sexual functions.
Weakness in the bladder and intestines

Physiotherapy program to reduce the symptoms of MS

Stretching and strengthening exercises to strengthen and stimulate the muscles and maintain an appropriate amount of the patient’s motor capabilities.
Training in the use of some assistive devices to enable the patient to carry out normal activities in his day.