Stroke Booklet 1 | Page 18

Stairs and Curbs • Stand and lift at the same time • Pivot toward the chair toward the strongest side • Lower into the wheelchair • If there is a railing, hold onto it with your free hand • Step UP with your strongest leg first • Move the cane and weakest leg together • Step DOWN with your weakest leg and cane first • Then follow with your stronger leg Tips for using a walker Transfer: Wheelchair to Toilet Your caregivers should follow these steps for safety. • Lock the wheelchair • Place feet directly under body • Grasp the back of a belt or pants and lift • Keep weaker knee between legs • Pivot toward the strongest leg • Adjust clothing and gently sit down using the grab bar for additional support • Never pull on weak arm or by the armpit After Your Echo • Lift or roll the walker forward about 12 inches • Step forward with your weaker side first • Use the walker to help keep your balance • Bring your other foot forward to the center of the walker Improved Positioning Correct body posture helps reduce slumping and stiff joints. Weak arms and legs need to be supported and positioned properly. The therapist will start gently moving your legs and arms. The stretches help relax muscles that tighten up without use. Bathing and Dressing Performing your routine tasks may be difficult after a stroke. Many patients can learn ways to manage their daily activities. Doing so strengthens muscles and helps you regain your functioning. Walking Again Many patients walk after a stroke. You might start on a set of parallel bars. Most patients will graduate to an assistive device such as a walker or a cane. Your therapist will help you learn to use these devices correctly. Some patients use a special treadmill to regain walking skills. Tips: • Test water temperature with a hand or foot that was not affected by the stroke. • Use grab bars, a shower seat, a hand-held shower, and long-handled brush. • Dress while sitting, starting with the affected side. • Put on shirts that pull over the head and pants with elastic waistbands Tips for Using a Cane • Hold the cane on your stronger side • Get your balance • Move the cane and your weaker leg forward • If using a quad cane, make sure all four tips touch the ground • Support your weight on both the cane and your weaker side • Step with the stronger leg vessel wall. • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in the deep veins of the legs. • Vari ???H?Z[?????[??\?Y?Z[??]??[??H?Y[?[?\?H??[??&\??\??X?K???H?\??YK?\?\?YX\?\?\?B?\?X?[?[??YY???????[???Y?HX\? ?\?[??H\? [?B?X^HX\?H8?'????[???'H??[? ?\?\?B???[????????[????Y?HX\? ???(?HH[XY?\??[?\?X\?\?H??Y?B???\]\???X??Y??Y[?\?\???[?\?????[??]?Y]?[H]\????\^[?\??[??[?[??[[?\??X[?\?H??Y\????(?HX?YH?]\??\?\?\?[??\??YYY ???(?H]\?Z[?HH?\??X]Y[?[???[?K???(?H?][?H[???X][?X??][?\??????\??[??Y??H?\??\?H\??K????(?H?]\?????X[X?]?]H[?\??[?\??X[?\?H??Y\?[?[?H?\??\?K???(?H?H?\?H??Y\????]\\?[?Y[????X??]?H\?[???[?\?\??\?[??HX?X??X?X[???[?Z[?????[\\?[?]X[H[???Y??][?\??^H?[B?\?X?X[??]\?Z[?H[?\?]?\?[??Y?^B??[??[??^H?[[???X??[?\???\]B??????[?[??YY[??[Y\???[?\?????[\??\??[?\?\??\?[?][?H\?[??H?]\?H??X?H?\?] ?H\???\?[?[H???[?[?\??X]Y[??[?[?H?\?\??]\?H?YYY ????\?XX?[?]?[????]\?\^?[?\??[???L?XY[X????\?[??[B?H?\??[??[???\?[?Y?\X?X??X?X[???[\???H[?[?]X[[X????\?[??[H?]\?Z[?H[?\?X\??]H[?]\???]?X^H?YY??H\???YY[?H[???B?\[?[????[?[?????[?\??[?\?H\?]\?\???[??]?\??X]H]Z[YX?\?\??H[??YH??[?\???K?\^[?\??[?\?H\H??[?\??[?]XZ?\????[???[XY?\???\?? ]?X]\?X?\?\??[?\?????\??[??[?]XZ?\??\?]?????]ZX??B??????????Y?H?\??[?\?B?[XY?\?\?H?Y]?Y?H??\]\???Y[?????YX][?????\??ZY YJH\?\?Y\?[?H\? ?[?Z?H \?^\?[?T?H XY?]X??\??[??H[XY?[??K[?\??[?\??\?H?Y?B??\?H\?[??[?Y?\???Y?[??K?????[?[?\?[?]?[???[H[?H\?H[?H??][ [?\?X\???]H[??]H?[?H??[?[?\?B?[?]?Y ?\??[??H?H[?[?H\?XH??H??][ ????]\?\^[?\??[??\?Y???\^[?\??[??[?[[?\?X[?\?B???Y\??[???[\??]????\??[??\?H??[\?X^H[??YN???(?H?\????[???????Y?K?X??[?XY???[\??X?\?Y?Z[??????K???(?H[?]\?\?KH?[??[???]?H?????\??[?[ ???(?H\??X?[?HX\?[?H^Y\???H?????M??M??