A stroke is a "brain attack". It can happen to anyone at any time. It occurs when blood flow to an area of brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost.

Diagnosis

How a person is affected by their stroke depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged. For example, someone who had a small stroke may only have minor problems such as temporary weakness of an arm or leg. People who have larger strokes may be permanently paralyzed on one side of their body or lose their ability to speak. Some people recover completely from strokes, but more than 2/3 of survivors will have some type of disability.

Neuroplasticity is how your brain rewires itself and heals after stroke. By activating neuroplasticity, your brain will relearn how to control your muscles. The best way to activate neuroplasticity is with repetitive practice. Each time you repeat something, like rehab exercises, your brain gets better and better at this skill. The stroke survivor must rely on their therapist for exercise instruction so it is of utmost importance to have a therapist experienced in working with stroke victims.