Stretch after Stroke

Mood disorders are common in individual’s post- CVA.  Depression can manifest as a result of a brain lesion in the area that the stroke affected.  It is however most commonly due to feelings associated with loss of independence, loss of physical function, and lifestyle issues such as sedentary behaviour and social isolation.  Research also indicates that management of depression may also help improve physical functioning (Chan, Immink, & Hillier, 2012).   Image retrieved from: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/217487.php

This YouTube video demonstrates how yoga helped a CVA survivor rehabilitate, improving his depression symptoms, ability to balance and improved his physical functioning. He was extremely impressed by the effectiveness of yoga in improving his symptoms, and he now teaches yoga to CVA survivors  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDa1QWTKy7c This real life experience demonstrates how yoga has been utilised as a therapuetic tool to help rehabilitate following a CVA, and the many benefits it can have for the individual, enabling them to re-engage in meaningful occupations. My next post will address how yoga may be incorporated in occupational therapy rehabilitation with individuals following a CVA.

Yoga may be utilised as a complimentary therapy alongside other occupational therapy intervention. Image retrieved from: http://littlefloweryoga.com/blog/ot-yogi-what-is-occupational-therapy-and-how-it-relates-to-children-and-yog

CVA is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, causing devastating impairments, influencing one’s ability to engage in everyday occupations (Lazaridou, Philbrook, & Tzika, 2013) . The physical postures in yoga help CVA survivors to gain strength, and improve flexibility and balance following their CVA, and the breathing exercises associated with yoga help to ease anxiety and depression following a CVA (Thayabaranathan et al., 2012). Image retrieved from: http://www.zenlines.com/health/benefits-chair-yoga.html