Left Hemiparesis Meets Movement Therapy at ABTP

Every bud holds the promise to bloom. What if a sudden storm disrupts the growth? What if it washes away the hopes and leaves the tender bud in need of healing?

Similarly, a childhood stroke can completely disrupt the development of the child’s brain and body, and this can lead to complete loss of motor and sensory function in the child, leaving the parents and the entire family in despair. But just like a dedicated gardener never loses hope, the pediatric physiotherapists at ABTP patiently combine care, expertise, and perseverance to support a child's development and guide them toward independent living.

In this blog, we will discover a heartfelt story of a little warrior who overcame the challenges of left hemiparesis at ABTP and started a journey towards independent living. 

DEFINING CHILDHOOD STROKE We all know that blood carries oxygen to various parts of the body and when this flow gets obstructed, the brain cells start dying as they get deprived of oxygen. When the blood flow to a part of the brain stops because of a clot, it is called an ischemic stroke.

But when it occurs because of the rupturing of a blood vessel, then it is termed as hemorrhagic stroke.

As a consequence, there is complete loss of motor and sensory function in the child and this is termed paresis.

CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD STROKE There are various factors that lead to ischemic & hemorrhagic strokes in children. Few are mentioned below:

This is not just a battle in the brain but it becomes a daily challenge for the kid and the parents as well. In this case of left hemiparesis, we are going to discuss, an ischemic event that damaged the right hemisphere of the brain and led to left hemiparesis. This condition led the parents to realize that there was something unusual with the kid. She struggled with basic activities and was unable to perform essential developmental milestones like crawling or transitioning from sitting to standing, even at 1 year and 10 months—while independent steps are typically achieved by 12 months.

This left the parents in despair and their world seemed to collapse as they observed that her stature was uneven, her left arm just got weaker, her balance was off and even holding a toy was a task of extreme difficulty for their child. 

What seemed like an end was basically the start of a journey of resilience, therapy, and transformation at ABTP led by the experienced pediatric physiotherapist at ABTP - Dr. Swati. After the consultation, the expert gave a complete neurological and functional assessment to the kid. She reassured the parents that with consistent physiotherapy at ABTP, their child’s mobility patterns would improve significantly.

THE TIMELY OUTLOOK OF PHYSIOTHERAPY INTERVENTIONS

The goal of the physical therapy treatment is to make the child recover and regain the lost function. The brain of the child can be beautifully moldable—neuroplasticity. By leveraging the brain’s ability to rewire itself, the underlying causes of the stroke can be carefully handled.

Usually, the pediatric physiotherapist at ABTP assesses the patient looking into the aftermath of the stroke, paying attention to the motor and sensory impairment that has been caused, depending upon the region of the brain that has been affected

In this blog, we will discuss the case where the right hemisphere of the brain is involved; hence, we’ll be talking about the left hemiparesis. Due to this condition, the child faced unique challenges like limited activities of daily living (ADL). It impacted the child’s ability to perform everyday movements. 

But we at ABTP believe in converting the challenges into opportunities and limitations into possibilities.

With the help of customized training programs adaptable to a patient’s needs and requirements, our expert focused upon:

• Neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) to retrain movement patterns

• Balance and coordination exercises to improve gait and posture

• Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) to strengthen use of the affected limb

• Play-based therapy to motivate younger children through fun, functional activities

• Parental guidance and home routines to ensure continuous progress

Click the link below to see the joy on a mother’s face as she watches her child sit, stand, and walk independently.

At ABTP, we are delighted to serve our clients with the freedom of movement. Our holistic care approach guides individuals through recovery, ensuring optimized mobility and an improved quality of life.

If you’re experiencing orthopedic or neurological issues—or if your child is facing pediatric concerns such as cerebral palsy, delayed development, fractures, or strokes—then the link below is exactly where you need to click.