First Assessment
Free
45 minutes, at home
- Full clinical examination at the patient's home
- The likely cause explained in plain language
- A realistic recovery plan and what it will cost
- No obligation to book any further sessions
After a stroke, most of the work of recovery is done in the days between sessions. That is why home physiotherapy fits so well: the people who will practise with the patient, the bed they get out of, the bathroom they use and the stairs they must one day manage are all in one place. In a Bibwewadi flat, they are usually on one floor, and the first task is to make that floor safe.
Our stroke rehabilitation page explains the stages in general. This page is about the practical business of doing it at home in Bibwewadi. For another local view, see stroke rehabilitation in Gangadham.
Teaching the family to be the second physiotherapist
Most of the time, the patient will practise with a spouse, a son or daughter, or a paid helper. The physiotherapist therefore spends part of each visit teaching them. We show how to stand on the weaker side, where to hold, how to cue a movement rather than force it, and when to stop. Several people may share the care, so we ask that anyone who helps be present at least once, and we write the instructions down.
- Getting out of bed. Rolling toward the stronger side, using the arm to push up, and pausing at the edge before standing.
- Standing and sitting. Feet apart and back, nose over toes, weight through both legs, and a chair that does not slide.
- Walking. Helper on the weaker side, a short step at a time, with a stick or walker only if the physiotherapist has chosen one.
- Using the weaker hand. Brushing teeth, holding a cup, buttoning a shirt. Everyday tasks make good practice.
Stairs, bathroom and the way out of the building
Bibwewadi's societies are mostly apartment buildings, many with stairs and no lift. The physiotherapist will check three places in particular. The first is the bathroom: the threshold, the floor surface, the toilet height and whether grab rails would help. The second is the stairs, which are attempted only when the patient has enough control, with a helper below. The third is the entrance: how many steps lead from the lane to the door, and whether a wheelchair or walker could get in. We tell you honestly if something should be adapted or if the first outings should wait.
What the treatment includes
The mix depends on what the stroke has affected. It may include exercises to wake up and strengthen the weaker side, balance training in sitting and standing, practice with walking, and work on the shoulder, which is easily injured when the arm is weak. Elderly physiotherapy principles on balance and falls also apply, and the manual therapy page describes the hands-on part. Speech, swallowing and thinking problems need other specialists, and the physiotherapist will say when to ask for them.
What to do if something changes suddenly
A second stroke, or a transient attack, can happen at any time. Sudden weakness, a drooping face, new confusion or slurred speech, a severe headache or a collapse is an emergency, so call for an ambulance or go to the nearest hospital without waiting. Chest pain, breathlessness and a swollen painful calf also need urgent medical attention. In a home-visit programme we do not try to judge these; we stop the session and get help.
To arrange a first visit, use the booking page. The Bibwewadi hub explains how visits are planned around Satara Road traffic and which neighbourhoods we cover.