Why Do We Need Wheelchairs for Stroke Recovery?
A wheelchair for rent is one of the most used assistive medical devices to promote mobility for individuals who have difficulties walking and enhance their quality of life. Disabilities may be orthopaedic (the bone and muscles) or neuromuscular (the nerves and muscles). Many disabilities and medical conditions require wheelchairs but finding a wheelchair that meets each person’s individual needs are significant. A suitable wheelchair, whether electronic or manual, reclining or tilting, sitting, or standing, will be the one that offers the best options for comfort, mobility, and independence.
Some of the more common mobility impairments are amputations, paralysis, spinal cord injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and more.
Strokes that need wheelchairs for recovery
There are many strokes, but only three main types of strokes cause considerable damage, leading to rehabilitation through physical therapy and wheelchair recovery. Not all stroke patients need wheelchairs for rent, but those who need them need to understand how to use them. The main goal is to regain their mobility and independence by getting back on their own two feet and ultimately ditching the wheelchair. Still, until that happens, it is a smart choice to pick a comfortable and helpful wheelchair.
Types of Strokes
A stroke can be of many types and occurs when there is a lack of blood flow to the brain. These may include:
- Ischemic stroke occurs when there is a blood clot that prevents blood from reaching the brain. The clot can occur because of many things, but the most common reason is atherosclerosis, which occurs when a build-up of fatty deposits enters the lining of a blood vessel. Unlike a transient ischemic attack, ischemic stroke will not resolve itself without treatment.
- Transient ischemic attack is what most doctors would call a “mini-stroke” or a “warning”, which can occur when there is a minor clot interrupting blood flow to the brain. This kind of stroke does minor damage because the blood flow to the brain is only briefly halted.
- Hemorrhaging stroke is when the blood vessels in and around the brain burst or leak, which causes swelling of the brain and pressure to build. There are three types of hemorrhagic strokes. An aneurysm stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital lesions composed of a complex tangle of arteries and veins connected by one or more fistulae. It involves both high pressure (arteries) and low pressure (veins) blood vessels connected by one or more fistula. High blood pressure is one of the most common types of strokes that can weaken the blood vessels, resulting in bleeding.
Every stroke has a different recovery process, but they all cause similar complications with the brain. It can impair any part of the brain, increase, or decrease sensitivity to temperatures and pain, impair basic speech, and damage movement skills. It can be anything from minor behavioural changes to paralysis, but it all depends on the type of hemorrhage.
Why do we need Wheelchairs for Stroke Recovery?
A stroke on one side of the brain can affect movement and functionality on the other side of the body and vice versa. This is usually why stroke patients use wheelchairs. It is likely to regain these previously lost functions but only through rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and time. But a wheelchair is not always critical in the event of a stroke. The aftermath of a stroke is not always that bad, but most of the time, precautions such as manual wheelchairs are a smarter and safer option when in recovery.
No matter the type of stroke, if it is intense enough to affect the mobility and functionality of a person, then it is recommended to use a wheelchair or a walker at the very least. This can help boost physical functions to regain and hasten the process.
Another good reason would be transferring assistance to and from the car and around the house.
Conclusion:
Some stroke survivors must depend on a wheelchair for the rest of their lives. Still, most people can regain their mobility and walk again after proper physical therapy. Simple aids like leg-lifters and non-slip socks can help in regaining mobility. A stroke can cause many strange things out of the blue, like falling or collapsing, which is why these tools and other medical equipment for rent are useful.