5 Stroke Recovery Milestones and How Physical Therapy Gets You There

In the United States, somebody has a stroke every 40 seconds. Strokes are terrifying and life-threatening — you can survive a stroke, but you may deal with its aftermath for months, days, years, or even decades later.

Depending on which area of your brain was affected by the stroke, you may have lost one or more essential daily functions. Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the US. More than half of people over age 65 who suffer a stroke have mobility issues. Others lose their ability to speak.

Our caring and expert neurologists at Advanced Medical Care are on the cutting-edge of stroke care and rehabilitation. At our offices in Queens and Brooklyn, New York, we also prescribe physical therapy (PT) to help you regain mobility and live a full and satisfying life.

What are the signs that your PT is working after a stroke? Following are five of the most important milestones in recovery.

1. You leave the hospital

If you’ve had a stroke, you probably spent time in the emergency room or intensive care unit. Your doctors may have given you medication to prevent the formation of blood clots, which could lead to complications or cause another stroke. 

Your neurologist also prescribes PT. Your physical therapist begins working with you in the hospital, preferably within 24 hours after your stroke. Depending on your degree of disability, you may be ready to go home or to a rehab center, where your PT continues, in 5-7 days. 

2. You move from flaccidity to spasticity

When you first have a stroke, your muscles lose their strength. You might not even have the ability to lift your hand.

As your brain begins to recover, those flaccid muscles become rigid and even spastic. That’s why PT is so important. As your brain struggles to regain control over the rest of your body, it sends signals to your muscles that are aberrant and confused. Your muscles don’t know what to do; they freeze up.

Even though spasticity is not a state where you want to stay, the fact that your brain is trying to communicate with your muscles again is encouraging. PT is especially important at this stage, to control and relax the spasms so your muscles don’t become tight or rigid. 

3. Spasticity decreases and disappears

With regular PT, and as your brain recovers, spasticity begins to fade. The signals your brain sends to your muscles are now more ordered. Your therapist gives you exercises — and may help you carry them out — so your muscles stay long, strong, and flexible, rather than contracting and going rigid.

At this milestone, you notice that you can start carrying out some normal daily tasks of living, usually with some assistance. Eventually, the spasticity disappears. You may still have difficulty moving, but your muscles aren’t flaccid or rigid anymore. 

4. You become more coordinated

Although stroke recovery may seem frustratingly long, knowing which milestones you’ve hit can help you track your progress. As your spasticity decreases and disappears, you notice that your movements are more coordinated. 

At this point — after 3 months or so — the changes might not be as dramatic as they were in the first weeks after your stroke. But your physical therapist and medical team work together to keep you moving as close as possible to your pre-stroke abilities. 

Your PT or an occupational therapist (OT) may train you to use special tools in order to carry out your tasks of daily living. These not only aid you in accomplishing tasks, such as eating and dressing, but also help to further recover your fine-motor skills. 

5. You’re back to normal functioning

It’s often possible to fully recover or nearly recover your pre-stroke functions. Soon, with continued practice and PT, you should be able to:

• Walk comfortably
• Dress yourself
• Cook for yourself
• Have more stable balance

Each individual’s stroke and recovery journey is unique. You may find that you reach each milestone more quickly or more slowly than someone else might. However, with the help of your medical team and PT, you should recover most functions and also learn to develop new habits that could prevent a next stroke. 

Our neurology team Advanced Medical Care is committed to providing individualized care for stroke. To schedule a neurologic exam or to book a session with our physical therapists, schedule an appointment by phone or online message form.