alexander technique + stroke rehabilitation

Many people who have had strokes have residual symptoms after the fact, these include:

• Weakness, paralysis, issues with balance or coordination
• Pain, numbness, or burning and tingling sensations
• Fatigue
• Urinary or bowel incontinence
• Speech problems or difficulty understanding speech, reading, or writing

• Difficulty swallowing
• Memory problems, poor attention span, or difficulty solving problems
• Visual problems
• Depression, anxiety, or mood swings with emotional outbursts
• Difficulty recognizing limitations caused by the stroke

There are different potential symptoms depending on where the stroke occurred in the brain.

Right side:
Left-side weakness
Impulsive behavior
Overconfidence in abilities
Vision problems
Left side:
Right-side weakness
Speech and language problems
Slow behavior
 
What I think is particularly interesting is that there are no physical changes that occur during a stroke to reduce muscular strength or ability. Any and all residual effects of a stroke stem from the brain. The muscles do not deteriorate due to a stroke, eyes still have the same functionality, and the tongue and mouth have not been altered. The issue is with the brain and its functioning in coordination with the other parts of the body. 
 
Traditional Recovery:
Speech Therapy
Helps with issues producing or understanding speech
Physical Therapy
Help relearn movement or coordination
Occupational Therapy
Helps improve daily activities
 
What the Alexander Technique does + how it can benefit Stroke Recovery

• New head, neck, back coordination-- most optimal relationship
• Habit reeducation
• Stop and change harmful, strenuous movement habits
• Tools to stop and change bad habits in general
• Build new, helpful, easeful movement habits
• Tools to build new, helpful habits in general
• Movement reeducation
• Both in general and in relation to specific movements or tasks
• Build a healthy relationship between parts that exhibits tensegrity
• Critical thinking in connection with new movements or patterns (building new neuromuscular pathways)
• Pain management
• Improved posture or poise resulting in a feeling of being unburdened which can lead to lessened feelings of depression

 
If you or someone you know is interested in exploring the Alexander Technique as part of a program for Stroke Rehabilitation, please reach out here!