Types and Process of the Neural Plasticity Essay

Neural Plasticity Research June 14, 2020 Stacy Thompson, Leslie Hardy, Jennifer Mobley, Valerie Arredondo and Christina Diab There are many different types of strokes that are common in patients across the United States. Although common, many patients lack the knowledge of what to pay attention to as your body prepares for a stroke. Individual education and treatment after a life altering event is necessary for recovery. Stephanie has experienced an ischemic stroke which was caused by a blockage of the artery to the brain. This blockage suddenly interrupted the supply of blood to her brain. Due to the damage that was caused, the brain was triggered to reorganize. This caused Stephanie to experience limited restoration of functioning. Functioning of the feeling in her arm, the ability to successfully grasp an object, muscle tone, and muscle weakness are some of the after-effects of the stroke. Stephanie has since dealt with motor impairments and is recovering by rehabilitation that is focused on recovery of her upper extremities. It is important after a stroke to facilitate early intervention of rehabilitation with intensive therapy, brain simulation that is noninvasive, and medication. This rehabilitation requires a personal plan to benefit the individual based on their needs. Stephanie has implemented this rehabilitation for recovery and to enable her brain’s reorganization of itself, which allows the neurons in her brain to make-up for the injury sustained. The process and recovery of neural plasticity after her stroke is unique to the individual. Motor function in stroke patients carries a large variance in predicting recovery from just an x-ray or even a doctor’s appointment. Non-invasive techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, trans cranial magnetic stimulation, electroencephalography and magneto encephalography now allow the study of the working human brain. Studies in stroke patients can now address how cerebral networks in the human brain respond to focal injury and whether these changes are related to functional recovery. In using such techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, it helps the stroke patient by experiencing modulate cortical excitability or electrical reactivity of cortical neurons to a direct perturbation. The patients will experience various motor tasks that mimic everyday life to see just how much they can do and any progress along the way. Studies have shown that recovery in stroke victims typically occurs during the first 3 to 4 months of the incident. The brain will go through a process of comprehending just what the victim has been through: The first happens within the initial hours and notices changes of blood flow, inflammation and edema. Second, the first days of stroke spontaneous recovery is noted, the brain is finally understanding just what happened. Last, begins week or months after the stroke when recovery has plateaued but still modifiable. After a stroke it is suggested to undergo strength training. The most familiar training used is the “PRT” (Progressive Resistance Training). This training focuses on the side affected the worse by the stroke. Progressive resistance training includes working extensively on the side that was affected the most and putting the less affected side in a sling for less movement during training. Many thought that the strenuous activity on the damaged side should be avoided. Studies revealed that is in fact incorrect and that it can increase strength in the affected muscles. At times with the tightness or stiffness in muscles, strength training can be difficult. There was a study done on nineteen participants by Katie Dragert and E. Paul Zehr. The study showed that fifteen of the nineteen participants improved strength in the affected side by thirty-four percent. Around the fifteenth session of the neurologically intact participant’s training, drastic strength gain was revealed. It was also revealed that twelve of the elbow extension exercises can dramatically change the improvement for the betterment of the arm that has not been trained. By using the known interlimb neural connection, leg movements can be accommodated in a rhythmic motion such as cycling for the arms and legs. Just one session of arm cycling can modify the spinal excitability for the legs. Within five weeks of arm cycling alone, chronic stroke patients were found to have notable improvements with an exercise of thirty minutes and three times a week. This type of adjustment is important in the process of helping weak feet to be raised upward while walking. References: (1) Ebscohost, university library, “August 2019” “Lan Nguyen” “Murphy, Karen” “Andrews, Glenda” (2) Exercise and Sport Science Reviews: Volume 47 (4), October. 2019 Pg 223-229 References Ischemic Stroke (2020). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ischemicstroke.htm 10 Things Stroke Survivors Need To Understand About Neuroplasticity (2020). Retrieved from https://tactustherapy.com/neuroplasticity-stroke-survivors/ …