7th May 2024
Lurgan Hospital’s stroke and rehabilitation team have participated in an education session on dealing with muscle weakness as part of an ongoing development programme on stroke care.
Muscle weakness is one of the most prominent effects of stroke, which can lead to spasticity and contractures (stiffness and tightening) and can significantly affect the patient’s physical independence.
Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Dietetic staff all attended the latest stroke education session on ‘Post Stroke Spasticity and Splinting.’
Senior Physiotherapist, Siobhan Canning discussed the impact of post stroke spasticity and contractures on the patient’s wellbeing, the role of the whole multidisciplinary team in managing muscle stiffness, treatment options and the use of splints for prevention.
Charge Nurse, Arjay Juan shared research evidence on the effects of spasticity on the patient’s quality of life, the benefits of the use of splints and the adequate duration of splinting according to recent studies.
Senior Occupational Therapist, Suzanne Lynch carried out practical training on how to prepare the hand, apply the splint and the assessment and monitoring of splints, when they are used.
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