Occupational Therapy in Action: Building Life Skills After a Stroke

The therapeutic benefits of occupational therapy for individuals who have survived a stroke can be profound. Depending on the severity and area of the brain affected by a stroke or "brain attack" which occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel or artery, or a blood vessel breaks, and blood flow to an area of the brain is interrupted symptoms may range from minor weakness in an arm or leg, and/or mild speech or memory deficits, to complete paralysis on one side of the body, and/or an inability to express or process language.

An occupational therapist's goal when treating a stroke survivor is to maximize independence by restoring lost function through the implementation of assistive devices that facilitate independent activity (e.g., elastic shoe laces, a splint) and recommended modifications to the patient's home and work environment to further assist in adapting to a new way of life.

To accommodate for the disparity in patients' symptoms, a team of doctors and therapists, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, and/or speech language pathologists, often work together (with input from the client and his/her family) to devise individualized treatment plans that ensure the specific needs of each patient are being met.

"As occupational therapists, we really look at the whole picture, incorporating all of a person's needs into one program to achieve the highest level of independence," says Joan Knowlton, OTR/L, program manager, Easter Seals Massachusetts. By improving gross motor skills, muscle strength and range of motion through functional activities, occupational therapy helps to increase independence in daily living skills including dressing, eating, bathing and vocational pursuits.

Occupational therapists evaluate each stroke survivor's needs, abilities and interests using interviews, assessments and medical records. "Ideally, occupational therapy begins while the patient is still in the hospital. The sooner the better," says Kathy Longmeir, OTR/L, Easterseals Jayne Shover Center in Elgin, Ill. "After a stroke, a person can have tightness in the muscles, loss of tone, weakness. That is why stroke patients should begin an exercise program immediately (when appropriate) to gain strength as soon as possible."

Despite the benefits of therapy, Knowlton explains that relying on assistance from others for what were once simple tasks can be extremely troubling for some stroke survivors. "Individuals can be very resistant to therapy at first because they do not like to have to depend on others in any way," Knowlton says. "It is our job to turn that around by beginning to work with them right away, as soon as they are medically stable, by educating them on what is happening and what we are trying to do, and by getting them as involved as possible in their program."

Contact Easterseals for more information about occupational therapy and stroke.

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