Paralysis is a condition in which the muscles in a given part of the body lose the ability to move, because of which there is a loss of function in that particular area. The most common body parts that are affected with paralysis are the hands, legs, torso or even the face.
While there is no real treatment available for managing paralysis, professionals try to make the patient independent and capable of handling daily life and routine with the help of aids and exercise. Here are some of the most common tools that professionals use to help those who are affected with paralysis.
Support Methods To Managing Paralysis And Aid Movement
1. Managing Bowel And Bladder Movement
Most patients who suffer a paralytic stroke face problems in controlling their bowel and bladder movements. This is most common in case of a paralytic attack that follows some sort of spinal injury, which affects the nerves that control bowel and bladder movement.
- To manage bladder motions, the attendant will attach a catheter that will help to empty the urine from the bladder. The urine that is collected is emptied in an attached bag. Your attendant will help you to regularly empty the bladder, as otherwise it could lead to various infections and health complications.
To manage the bowel motions, your therapist may ask you to follow any of the following methods:
- Enema: It is a type of liquid that will be injected in your system. It triggers your stools almost immediately and will help you empty your bowel.
- Retraining The Bowel: Your attendant will help you create a routine for each day to empty your bowel at the same time.
- Colostomy: It is a type of surgical procedure in which the doctors will divert some part of the bowel to an opening in the wall of the abdomen. As a result, the bowel will empty through the diverted opening.
2. Wheelchairs And Orthoses
Wheelchairs are of two types, manual as well as automatic. Orthoses are a type of braces that are used to specifically improve the functions of the affected limbs.
- Manual wheelchairs are useful for those patients who are mainly affected in the lower part of the body and can use their upper body strength to move around. Automatic wheelchairs are useful for those patients who are mainly affected in the upper part of the body and cannot use their upper body to operate the vehicle manually.
- Another type of wheelchair is known as the standing wheelchair, in which the person also has the option of standing and moving around. While these are heavier than the other wheelchairs, they can help to prevent any sitting sores that are common amongst excessive wheelchair users.
- Orthoses are usually made of either plastic or metal, and can be attached to the wrist and hand, the ankle and foot, and even the knee ankle and foot. The wrist and hand orthoses will help to give more force from the wrist to the fingers. The ankle and foot orthoses will help those who have some movement in their lower limbs and will help them walk. The knee ankle and feet orthoses will help patients stabilize their knees and also help in walking. A neuroprosthesis is a modern type of device that sends electric currents to the affected muscles and aids movement.
3. Use Of Technology
There are various technological devices available that can make everyday life easier for those who suffer from paralysis.
- Environment Control Units: These are devices that will help the patient to control various everyday things such as the lighting, telephone, television, temperature and so on.
- Special Computers: These are special computers that have customized keyboards and can be operated without the use of fingers. In many cases, the patient can operate the keyboard by holding a special stick in the mouth, or by wearing a type of device on the head that passes a laser beam to the keyboard.
If you or a loved one is affected with paralysis, you can get in touch with our staff to book an attendant service for managing paralysis.
