Some of the more common ailments affecting individuals that will require our rehabilitation services include: 

•  Stroke
•  Parkinson's  Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

What is a stroke?  

A stroke is what happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, leading to the death or damage of brain tissue.   The brain controls everything the body does. Damage to the brain can affect body functions, including how we move, think, learn, feel and communicate.There are three main types of stroke: Ischemic strokes happen when something blocks an artery that carries blood to the brain. There are several possible causes:   

• A blood clot forms in a main artery to the brain.   
• A blood clot, air bubble or fat globule forms in a blood vessel and is carried to the brain. In atrial fibrillation, where the two upper chambers of the heart – the atria– beat irregularly instead of beating in a normal rhythm, blood is not properly pumped out of the heart. As a result; a clot may form – if this lodges in an artery in the brain, a stroke may result.   

There is a blockage in the tiny bloody vessels deep inside the brain.  This happens when a blood vessel bursts and bleeds in to the brain (a hemorrhage). This may be due to: a vessel bursting in the brain itself or a blood vessel on the surface of the brain bleeding into the area between the brain and the skull. 

The two other types of strokes are :

Hemorrhagic stroke (caused by ruptured blood vessels that cause brain bleeding)
Transient ischemic attack (TIA) (a “mini-stroke,” caused by a temporary blood clot)  

Symtoms of a Stroke   

• Facial Weakness.   
•  Arm weakness.   
• Speech problems. 

When a stroke happens some brain cells are damaged and others die. Dead brain cells can’t start working again, but those just outside of the area of the dead cells may recover as the swelling caused by the stroke goes down. It is also possible that other parts of the brain can learn to take over from areas that have died. Most recovery happens in the first few months, but people can continue to recover for years after the stroke.   

There are several problems or disabilities stroke survivors may face after a stroke. These symptoms may improve with rehabilitation as the brain recovers. However, in some cases they may cause long-term disability.  

Common problems after a stroke:   

• Weakness or paralysis (hemiplegia) on one side of the body.  
• Balance.  
• Swallowing.  
• Tiredness and possible sleeping difficulties.  
• Speech and language issues.  
• Impaired eyesight (double vision or hemianopia).  
• Difficulty recognising objects (perceptual impairment).  
• Difficulty with thinking (Cognitive impairment).  
• Bladder and bowel dysfunction.  
• Mood swings.  
• Impaired sensation.  
• Pain.  

Stroke rehabilitation will include:  

• Exercises and activities – to help you to get back the abilities you have lost. These activities may be very repetitive and aim to assist other brain cells to take over the task of cells permanently damaged by the stroke  
• Compensatory techniques – learn alternative ways of doing tasks  
• Adapting to limitations caused by your stroke with support from our staff.

What Causes Parkinson's?

To date, despite decades of intensive study, the causes of Parkinson’s remain unknown. Many experts think that the disease is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, which may vary from person to person.

In some people, genetic factors may play a role; in others, illness, an environmental toxin or other event may contribute to PD. Scientists have identified aging as an important risk factor; there is a two to four percent risk for Parkinson’s among people over age 60, compared with one to two percent in the general population.

Genetic Factors

The vast majority of Parkinson's cases are not directly inherited. About 15 to 25 percent of people with Parkinson’s report having a relative with the disease. In large population studies, researchers have found that people with an affected first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, have a four to nine percent higher chance of developing PD, as compared to the general population. This means that if a person’s parent has PD, his or her chances of developing the disease are slightly higher than the risk among the general population

Environmental Factors

Some scientists have suggested that Parkinson's disease may result from exposure to an environmental toxin or injury. Epidemiological research has identified several factors that may be linked to Parkinson’s, including rural living, well water, manganese and pesticides.

Some studies have demonstrated that prolonged occupational exposure to certain chemicals is associated with an elevated risk of PD. These include the insecticides permethrin and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH), the herbicides paraquat and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and the fungicide maneb.