Chiropractic Care in Stroke Rehabilitation
About half a million Filipinos will be affected by stroke. It occurs when the brain stops receiving enough blood to an area of the brain. The said condition is the brain’s equivalent of a heart attack. Consequently, it can cause some parts of the brain to shut down.
For those who are affected by the condition, immediate attention is required to minimize the damage. Continuous therapy may also be prescribed by a doctor for rehabilitation and full recovery. In line with this, chiropractic in Manila shows promising results as a complementary therapy for Filipino stroke victims, helping with musculoskeletal issues that inhibit body movements.
Chiropractic is a comprehensive healthcare procedure that involves diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders that affect the musculoskeletal system. Since stroke affects body movements and neural function, it can offer a helpful aid in rehabilitating stroke patients.
Stroke in the Philippines
In the Philippines, stroke is the second-leading cause of death. This is according to a study that was published in Research Gate. It comes with a prevalence of 0.9%. Here, ischemic stress, a condition where mental stress leads to abnormal heart muscle function, comprises 70%. While hemorrhagic stroke, a stroke that takes place when a weakened blood vessel ruptures comprises 30%.
According to the same study, age-adjusted prevalence rates for hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, and obesity are 20.6%, 6.0%, 72.0%, 31%, and 4.9%, respectively. The ratio of neurologists to patients is 1:330,000, with 67% of neurologists working in urban areas. Healthcare is predominantly private, with costs typically paid out-of-pocket by patients and their families. Key challenges include providing adequate support to rural communities and underprivileged sectors.
The neurological impact of stroke
Neurological activity shuts off when a stroke occurs. Due to lack of oxygen, neurons die, and electric signals lose their channels. A stroke episode impacts different neurological mechanisms and related functions.
The nervous system
Dead brain cells form patches of gaps in the passageway of electric signals from the brain to the body’s organs. As neurons die from a lack of oxygen and essential nutrients, the nervous system fails to communicate commands to enable muscle movement and proper organ function. This leads to various impairments, including partial or complete paralysis.
Musculoskeletal system
The nervous and musculoskeletal systems are closely interconnected. When crucial neural networks in the brain are badly hit, the connected musculoskeletal parts are also impacted. As a result of this link, stroke can paralyze the muscle by rendering it stiff or limp. This affects the body’s coordination, balance, and posture.
This is where chiropractic treatment comes in. It can help improve posture, and this can pave the way to improved coordination as well as balance.
Central segmental motor control
Central segmental motor control is a condition that affects the spinal column and impairs joint movement. Improper interaction of bones meeting on a joint can restrict the central nervous system from regulating neuromuscular function. This may lead to tight vertebral muscles and issues with movement and posture.
Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is an important concept in stroke recovery. It refers to the ability of the brain’s neural network to reorganize itself. Later on, it changes its structure to adapt to injuries and changes caused by other factors. This feature is helpful in the rehabilitation and reintegration of stroke victims into their prior lifestyle.
Chiropractic and stroke rehabilitation
Recovery from stroke involves different therapies that are designed to reintroduce skills that are lost due to impaired neurological and musculoskeletal regions. Chiropractic in Manila, Philippines provides a complementary boost to rehabilitative therapies for stroke. In fact, a study published in the National Library of Medicine found that stroke patients who had undergone chiropractic showed improvements in muscle strength.
Spinal column and the nervous system
Chiropractic focuses on the connection between the spinal column and the nervous system. Particularly, it corrects misalignment in the neuro and musculoskeletal structure of the body through measured adjustments.
The price of chiropractic in Manila varies and is based on a number of factors. The long list includes the gravity of one’s condition, the treatment required, a doctor of chiropractic’s experience level, and so on. The relief that it brings, however, is priceless.
Through expert adjustment and manipulation, chiropractors align the spinal column that encases the spinal cord, improving neural function and signal transmission from the brain to the muscles. This can improve joint mechanics and can trigger neuroplasticity. Factors that are helpful in stroke recovery.
Sensory receptors
Chiro care also activates sensory receptors in joints and muscles. Later on, this facilitates seamless signal transfer along neural pathways, which enables better control of the body’s movements. Improved mobility allows patients to keep up with their primary stroke therapy and perform better. This, in turn, can also contribute to faster recovery since chiropractic can tap the body’s capacity to heal itself.
Motor function
Getting a chiropractic in Manila can also help in managing spasticity or muscle tightness and spasms that interferes with motor function. Spasticity is a common post-stroke complication. With regular therapy accompanied by guided chiropractic care, patients can benefit from reduced spasticity and musculoskeletal pain.
Balance and function
Another benefit of chiropractic is enhanced balance and posture. These are some of the crucial skills monitored and relearned during stroke rehabilitation. Proper adjustments in the vertebral column can increase the range of motion and allow painless bending and rotation. They can make simple tasks such as walking and standing straight easier.
Safety and reminders
A study showed positive results linked to chiropractic for short-term treatment. To ensure that chiro is the right way to go, communicating with healthcare professionals must be continuous. Collaborate with skilled chiropractors, physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other medical experts, and keep in touch for crucial updates or progress.
Chiropractic procedures are not recommended for patients in the acute phase of stroke. They are also contraindicated among those with unstable medical conditions and tear in the arterial wall of the neck region. The said holistic approach is generally safe, but consulting experts before any type of procedure is a must. This is because it ensures that chiropractic treatment is appropriate for the patient’s condition.
Complementary chiropractic care for stroke victims
Chiropractic in Manila, Philippines is performed to complement primary stroke rehabilitation therapies. Stroke affects the interconnected neurological and musculoskeletal networks of the body, leaving patients partially or completely paralyzed after an episode.
Chiropractic focuses on fixing misalignment in the spinal column that protects the spinal cord. This brings in several benefits, including optimal neurological function, which enables the brain to efficiently send signals to different parts of the body, improved mobility, pain management, and enhanced balance and posture.
Positive results emerged in studies, demonstrating chiro’s potential in promoting stroke rehabilitation. However, the long-term impact of the procedure remains unknown.
Constant communication with a team of professional healthcare providers and therapists ensures that patients receive the safest and most appropriate treatment for each case. As stroke doesn’t only impact the patient, family members and caregivers must also be aware of prescriptions and contraindications by regularly consulting with experts before deciding on any procedure.
Visit us at Posture Perfect Chiropractic
Recover your physical capacity to move freely and live your life to the fullest after a stroke by undergoing chiropractic treatments. You may experience improvements in your movement, muscle control, and so forth. Book an appointment at Posture Perfect Chiropractic and discover how our doctors of chiropractic can perform treatments that can assist in your recovery journey.
