Rehabilitation treatment and dietary precautions for sequelae of stroke

**Treatment methods for post-stroke sequelae**

After treatment, stroke patients often suffer from sequelae such as hemiplegia, speech impairment, facial paralysis, increased psychological and emotional vulnerability, and changes in personality and temperament, which can affect the quality of life of patients and their families.

There are many conventional rehabilitation methods for stroke sequelae, including hemiplegic limb function exercises, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, neurotrophic drugs, and speech rehabilitation.

The methods of rehabilitation training differ at each stage.

**1. Functional training for hemiplegic limbs**

(1) Generally, the functional exercise of hemiplegic limbs is divided into three stages: the early recovery stage.

Since the patient's hemiplegic limbs are completely immobile at this time, massage, manipulation, passive exercise and other training methods can be used to prevent muscle atrophy.

Generally, each local massage should last 5-10 minutes, and a full-body massage should not exceed 30 minutes.

Massage involves using your fingers or palms to push forward along the paralyzed muscles.

Passive movement involves someone else moving the patient's paralyzed limbs, including each joint, large and small, with the range of motion reaching as much as possible the maximum range of motion a normal joint can move.

(2) Recovery in the mid-term stage.

At this stage, hemiplegic patients can gradually move their limbs, but they still do not have the strength to perform active movements. Therefore, in addition to continuing the methods from the first stage, limb exercises at this time should also include exercises such as turning over, sitting up, learning to stand with the help of others, and moving forward by holding onto the back of a chair or bed frame with both hands, in order to exercise the muscle strength and joint movement of the paralyzed lower limb.

(3) Recovery in the later stage.

At this stage, patients are able to engage in some more vigorous activities, so the main exercise for patients at this stage is to practice walking and fine motor skills training.

However, when patients perform the above exercises, family members need to be present to protect them and help them gradually increase the amount of activity and walking distance.

If patients and their families learn the methods of functional exercises and rehabilitation training for hemiplegic limbs, and if the family members are persistent and the patients themselves can persevere, they will achieve better practical results.

**2. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy**

To recover well from a stroke, limb rehabilitation exercises alone are far from enough; hyperbaric oxygen therapy can also be administered.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in an environment with a pressure exceeding one atmosphere.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides a new, scientific, and effective method for treating brain dysfunction and is of great significance in reducing disability rates.

**3. Acupuncture Treatment**

Acupuncture is a general term for acupuncture and moxibustion.

Acupuncture can improve brain function, refresh the mind, and promote blood circulation.

Acupuncture is a highly specialized procedure, requiring experienced doctors to select appropriate acupoints for optimal therapeutic effects.

**4. Drug Treatment**

In addition to the methods mentioned above, stroke patients also need medication.

Stroke patients can gradually improve their symptoms and prevent recurrence by adhering to long-term oral medication treatment combined with rehabilitation exercises.

The recurrence rate of stroke is very high, and each recurrence is more severe than the last, and may even be fatal. Therefore, it is essential to adhere to long-term oral medication and take secondary prevention measures.

In terms of preventing recurrence, using appropriate traditional Chinese medicine can be quite effective, such as drugs with the dual functions of "tonifying qi and nourishing blood, and promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis".

In summary, every rehabilitation method has its advantages and disadvantages. Combining treatments is a good approach, and long-term adherence should yield relatively ideal results.

**Dietary Precautions for Stroke Patients**

The onset of stroke is closely related to the patient's long-term poor diet (high fat, high calories, high purines). If the patient still cannot correct the wrong eating habits in time after the stroke, it will seriously affect the treatment effect of stroke.

What dietary precautions should stroke patients take?

(1) The diet should include adequate protein. Eat egg whites, lean meat, fish and various beans and bean products regularly to provide the body with the amino acids it needs.

(2) Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, as they contain vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, etc.

It helps soften blood vessels and lower blood lipids and blood pressure.

(3) Eat more foods rich in chromium and iodine. Chromium is an essential trace element for the human body and plays an important role in regulating liver metabolism.

Iodine can reduce cholesterol deposits on arterial walls and help soften blood vessels.

Examples include kelp, seaweed, dried shrimp, whole wheat, and coarse grains.

(4) Daily salt intake should be less than 6g, because salt contains a large amount of sodium ions. Excessive intake of sodium ions can increase blood volume and the burden on the heart, and can also increase blood viscosity, thereby raising blood pressure, which is detrimental to stroke patients.

(5) Animal fats, such as lard, butter, and cream, should be limited, as well as foods high in cholesterol, such as egg yolks, fish roe, animal organs, and fatty meat, because the saturated fatty acids in these foods can promote atherosclerosis.

Vegetable oils such as soybean oil, tea oil, sesame oil, and peanut oil can be used, as the unsaturated fatty acids they contain help reduce atherosclerosis.

(6) Avoid spicy and stimulating foods, such as alcohol, strong tea, coffee and strong seasonings.

In addition, eating less chicken soup and meat soup is beneficial for protecting the cardiovascular and nervous systems, and one should avoid overeating.