What is Hemiparesis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Let’s learn to diagnose Hemiparesis and some tips for treating it.

Hemiparesis manifests itself through feelings of weakness on one side of the body; it is the reduced ability to move the lower and upper extremities of one side of the body. You can still move the affected side of your body but with reduced muscle strength.

Health professionals, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists are a significant factor in the recovery of this condition. The treatment focuses on improving sensation and motor skills, allowing you to manage your daily life better.

This disease affects approximately 8 out of 10 stroke survivors which causes weakness or an inability to move one side of the body. If you have liability on one side, you may have trouble doing daily activities such as eating, dressing, and using the bathroom.

Rehabilitation treatments, home exercises, and assistive devices can help mobility and recovery.

Hemiparesis can cause some difficulties at the motor level, such as:

  • Loss of balance
  • Difficulty in walking.
  • Alteration of the ability to grab objects.
  • Decreased movement accuracy.
  • Muscular fatigue.
  • Lack of coordination.

How can we treat Hemiparesis?

You may be able to increase or regain strength and movement on the affected side with physical rehabilitation. Working with a physiotherapist, physical therapist, and occupational therapist offers excellent results in recovery of the vast majority of symptoms of Hemiparesis, as well as in achieving overall body mobility.

A variety of treatments help improve the use and movement of affected arms and legs. These include the following:

 

Modified Induced Restraint Therapy: This therapy restricts the use of the least affected part of your body, which forces you to use the weakened part of your body. Regular practice can improve nerve function.

Electrical stimulation: It is used to treat feelings of weakness, as well as to improve sensory awareness, strengthening the weakened part of the body (such as the arm, leg, hand, or foot) and achieving improvements in the range of movements.

This procedure involves placing pads that conduct electricity to weakened muscles. The gentle electrical charges force your muscles to contract to cause them to move.

Some tips for living with Hemiparesia.

In addition to rehabilitation treatment, home exercises and assistance can help increase mobility.

Repeated practice and regular activity will help increase control and flexibility and restore nervous circuits. You can learn specific exercises at home that will help to continue recovery after therapy.

Always consult a health professional before beginning these exercises.