Every year, precisely October 29, World stroke day is celebrated globally to raise awareness on stroke, its prevention, treatment, and life after stroke. While the main goal of post-stroke management is to minimize brain injury, post-stroke rehabilitation is equally important to ensure the best possible quality of life for patients.
Stroke, according to research, is one of the leading causes of death and ranks among the main causes of disability and invalidity in adults, and every one in four adults will have a stroke.
In low- and middle-income countries, the incidence of stroke is becoming significantly high whereas high-income countries have seen a significant decrease due to lifestyle changes and new treatment options.
Researchers have shown that people who participate in a focused stroke rehabilitation program perform better than most people who don’t. In addition, timely rehabilitation not only improves functional recovery but helps to identify and prevent many distressing post-stroke complications.
In Nigeria, most stroke patients fail to participate in stroke rehabilitation services to aid full recovery. A stroke rehabilitation team often includes physicians, physiotherapists, rehabilitation nurses and occupational therapists.
The average stroke recovery takes anywhere from three to months to one to two years, and sometimes recovery efforts can last a lifetime. Early intervention is critical for the best results and rehab is recommended to start within a day or two of hospitalisation.
To ensure adherence to rehabilitation activities, patients can consider the option of inpatient rehabilitation centers to make sure needs are met during this period.
Inpatient rehabilitation centers are likely to be more equipped in providing a higher level of therapy and care thereby promoting faster, more complete recovery and rehabilitation.
Speaking to newsmen on the occasion of World Stroke Day, Boroji Osindero, CEO of Wellpath Physiotherapy said, “There is an increasing number of stroke survivors requiring rehabilitation services for acquired deficits such as dysphasia, dysphagia, cognitive impairment, and motor disability.”
In her words, “At Wellpath, our inpatient rehabilitation facility has been accredited to provide intensive rehabilitation services for clients in a home-like setting, where they receive daily physiotherapy and occupational therapy, seven days a week.”
During their stay, Osindere emphasised, they are able to eat their meal in our in-house dining facility or outdoors by the pool. In addition, our unique care plans allow the family and the caregivers to work collaboratively towards achieving the same goal for the patient’.
“Caregivers who take care of loved ones that survived stroke are overwhelmed by the high level of care they require and may in the process break down. Also, rather than seeing a single therapist for office or home visits, as is common in outpatient programs, our inpatient rehab centers use a team approach to therapy and care,” the expert highlighted.
She continued that patients are evaluated and treated by a tightly-coordinated, physician-led team of rehabilitation professionals.
Known as a leading rehabilitation centre in Nigeria with branches in Lekki, Victoria Island, and Ikoyi, Wellpath Physiotherapy is a multiple award-winning clinic. It offers high-quality, multidisciplinary rehabilitation services including inpatient physiotherapy, outpatient physiotherapy, telehealth among others.
The clinic was awarded ‘Best Physiotherapy Clinic in Nigeria’ by the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards in 2018 and 2019.
