Proper positioning after stroke

Stroke is the 3rd leading causes of death in Bangladesh. The World Health Organization rank’s Bangladesh’s mortality rate due to stroke as number 84 in the world. One study shows that 485 per 10000 people are suffering from stroke that severely impact Bangladesh’s economy.

A stroke is a serious, life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. After a stroke, muscles can be affected in various ways, causing pain, spasticity, and problems with speed and range of motion. That time proper body position is very important thing. It can minimize these effects which are responsible for bad position.

In our country people are not aware about proper body position after stroke. That’s why many patients suffer from following problems:

Pressure sores
Chest infections
Blood clots in the legs
Blood clots that travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
Urinary tract infections
Constipation
Less range of motion in a joint
Permanent muscle shortening (contracture)
Partial separation of your shoulder joint
Muscle shrinkage
Blood pressure problems
Swelling
Chronic pain in an affected limb
Muscle spasticity
Proper positioning can be useful to minimize or prevent pain and stiffness that are commonly present post-stroke. It can also help you to regain movement that was lost after your stroke, or limit future problems with movement. In addition, proper positioning has been shown to increase awareness and protection of the weaker side of the body.

Setting up your room
You will need to position objects in your room so that your affected side gets as much stimulation as possible. You will need to make the stroke-affected side of your body work harder. You can do this by:

Arranging the furniture in the room so you have to turn your head toward your injured side for eye contact
Setting up your bed so you get in and out of it with your affected arm and leg
Placing your table on your affected side for meals, so you have to look past your area of vision problems
Placing your TV so you have to turn your affected side when watching
Telling visitors and medical caregivers to approach you from your affected side
Positioning while lying on your back
Pillows are placed behind the shoulder, head, weaker arm, and hip. The feet are placed in a neutral position.

Positioning while lying on the weaker side
When lying on the weaker side, one or two pillows are placed under the head, the weaker shoulder is positioned comfortably on a pillow, the stronger leg is forward on one or two pillows, and the weaker leg is straight out. Pillows are also placed n back and in front of the body.

Positioning while lying on the stronger side
One  or  two  pillows  are  placed  under  the  head,  while  the  weaker  shoulder  is placed  forward  with  the  weaker  arm  supported  by  pillows. The weaker leg  is placed toward the back on pillows.

Positioning while sitting in bed
Sitting up  in bed  is recommended  for short periods only as  it  is better  to sit  in a chair  as  soon  as  possible. The individual will sit upright, well supported by pillows.  Arms  are  placed  on  pillows  on  either  side  of  the  body  and  legs  are extended comfortably.

Positioning during transfers
During  transfers  to  a  chair  or  from  a  chair  to  another  chair,  positioning  of  the weaker shoulder and upper arm is important.
The weaker arm should always be supported during  transfers, and  it  is  important  that no one pull on  the arm as  it can cause pain in your shoulder that will be difficult to eliminate once created. For getting out of bed, it may be useful to install a bar beside your bed that you can hold  onto  with  your  stronger  arm  to  help  push  yourself  up  to  the  standing position.
Positioning while standing and walking
While  standing  up  and  moving  around,  slings  and  supports  are  used  for Positioning of the weaker arm.

What devices can use for positioning?
-Shoulder Support for maintain proper position. Positioning the weaker arm using shoulder supports when standing, moving and walking has been shown to be effective in preventing and reducing shoulder pain and shoulder subluxation (dislocation of the shoulder).  
 - Pillows are used for padding and protection of some pressure points of  the arm and legs, such as elbows, knees, and heels.
-Pneumatic Bed for preventing pressure sore during lying on bed
 
Who can help you?
A qualified occupational therapist can help you to suggest how you maintain proper position during sitting, lying, transferring and walking.

 

 

Proper positioning after stroke

Stroke is the 3rd leading causes of death in Bangladesh. The World Health Organization ranks Bangladeshs mortality rate due to stroke as number 84 in the world. One study shows that 485 per 10000 people are suffering from stroke that severely impact Bangladeshs economy. A stroke is a serious, life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. After a stroke, muscles can be affected in various ways, causing pain, spasticity, and problems with speed and range of motion. That time proper body position is very important thing. It can minimize these effects which are responsible for bad position. In our country people are not aware about proper body position after stroke. Thats why many patients suffer from following problems: Pressure sores Chest infections Blood clots in the legs Blood clots that travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism) Urinary tract infections Constipation Less range of motion in a joint Permanent muscle shortening (contracture) Partial separation of your shoulder joint Muscle shrinkage Blood pressure problems Swelling Chronic pain in an affected limb Muscle spasticity Proper positioning can be useful to minimize or prevent pain and stiffness that are commonly present post-stroke. It can also help you to regain movement that was lost after your stroke, or limit future problems with movement. In addition, proper positioning has been shown to increase awareness and protection of the weaker side of the body. Setting up your room You will need to position objects in your room so that your affected side gets as much stimulation as possible. You will need to make the stroke-affected side of your body work harder. You can do this by: Arranging the furniture in the room so you have to turn your head toward your injured side for eye contact Setting up your bed so you get in and out of it with your affected arm and leg Placing your table on your affected side for meals, so you have to look past your area of vision problems Placing your TV so you have to turn your affected side when watching Telling visitors and medical caregivers to approach you from your affected side Positioning while lying on your back Pillows are placed behind the shoulder, head, weaker arm, and hip. The feet are placed in a neutral position. Positioning while lying on the weaker side When lying on the weaker side, one or two pillows are placed under the head, the weaker shoulder is positioned comfortably on a pillow, the stronger leg is forward on one or two pillows, and the weaker leg is straight out. Pillows are also placed n back and in front of the body. Positioning while lying on the stronger side One or two pillows are placed under the head, while the weaker shoulder is placed forward with the weaker arm supported by pillows. The weaker leg is placed toward the back on pillows. Positioning while sitting in bed Sitting up in bed is recommended for short periods only as it is better to sit in a chair as soon as possible. The individual will sit upright, well supported by pillows. Arms are placed on pillows on either side of the body and legs are extended comfortably. Positioning during transfers During transfers to a chair or from a chair to another chair, positioning of the weaker shoulder and upper arm is important. The weaker arm should always be supported during transfers, and it is important that no one pull on the arm as it can cause pain in your shoulder that will be difficult to eliminate once created. For getting out of bed, it may be useful to install a bar beside your bed that you can hold onto with your stronger arm to help push yourself up to the standing position. Positioning while standing and walking While standing up and moving around, slings and supports are used for Positioning of the weaker arm. What devices can use for positioning? -Shoulder Support for maintain proper position. Positioning the weaker arm using shoulder supports when standing, moving and walking has been shown to be effective in preventing and reducing shoulder pain and shoulder subluxation (dislocation of the shoulder). - Pillows are used for padding and protection of some pressure points of the arm and legs, such as elbows, knees, and heels. -Pneumatic Bed for preventing pressure sore during lying on bed Who can help you? A qualified occupational therapist can help you to suggest how you maintain proper position during sitting, lying, transferring and walking.