Knee

What It Is

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off or severely reduced, so the brain tissue is starved of oxygen. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. A stroke is a medical emergency. Prompt treatment can help to reduce brain damage and possible complications.

Strokes can be prevented and treated. Controlling the main risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, can go a long way in reducing your risk (NHS, 2024b). Medicines prescribed by a doctor can also help (see below).

How to Recognise a Stroke: FAST

Face: one side of the face may droop and it may be hard to smile.
Arms: the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there, because of weakness or numbness in one arm.
Speech: words may be slurred or the person may sound confused.
Time: call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital straight away.

Other signs include weakness or numbness down one side of the body, blurred vision or loss of sight, difficulty finding words, confusion, dizziness or falling over, a severe headache, and feeling or being sick (NHS, 2024c). Even if the symptoms stop after a short time, get emergency help straight away. Do not drive yourself to hospital (NHS, 2024c).

Stroke Anatomy

There are three main parts of the brain – the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the brainstem – each with its own set of functions. The cerebrum is the largest part. It controls higher functions such as speech, emotion, thinking, making sense of what you sense, and fine control of movement.

The cerebellum handles balance, coordination and the control of movement. The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls vital functions such as heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and wakefulness (NINDS, 2025).

The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, while the right side of the brain controls the left side (NINDS, 2025).

Aspirin and Stroke

Don't take aspirin yourself if you think you or someone else is having a stroke. Whether aspirin is safe depends on the type of stroke (caused by a clot or by bleeding). Doctors first do a brain scan, and NICE guidance says aspirin should only be given after the scan has ruled out bleeding (NICE, 2019). So wait until you have been assessed by a doctor before taking any medicine.

Low-dose aspirin is sometimes taken regularly to prevent blood clots and lower the chance of a heart attack or stroke (NHS, 2026), but talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner rather than starting it yourself. (This medicine information comes from the NHS, not from me. Always check with a pharmacist or your family doctor or nurse practitioner before taking any medicine.)

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

How a Stroke is Treated in Hospital

Clot-busting medicine (thrombolysis): for strokes caused by a clot, medicine given into a vein can dissolve the clot; it is only given once a brain scan has ruled out bleeding, and the sooner it is given the better (NHS, 2024a; NICE, 2019).
Clot removal (thrombectomy): doctors pass a thin tube (catheter) through an artery to the brain and use a small device to remove the clot (NHS, 2024a; NINDS, 2026).
Carotid endarterectomy: an operation to remove fatty build-up from the carotid arteries, which run up the neck to the brain (NINDS, 2026).
Stents and angioplasty: a thin tube is passed through an artery up to a narrowed carotid artery in the neck, where a balloon widens it and a small mesh tube (stent) is left to keep it open (NINDS, 2026).

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Options outside my scope

Long-term medicines to lower the risk of another stroke may include anticoagulants (to stop blood clots forming), blood pressure medicines and statins (to lower cholesterol) (NHS, 2024a). (This medicine information comes from the NHS, not from me. Always check with a pharmacist or your family doctor or nurse practitioner before taking any medicine.)

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

Hands-on work to ease tight, overactive muscles and swelling
Gentle movement and positioning to keep your joints healthy
Balance, walking and everyday movement practice at your level

Tips

One of the main things you can do is keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. Manage stress, exercise and cut down on alcohol (NHS, 2024b).
Smoking increases your risk of stroke, so quitting can help lower your risk.
Eat a balanced diet, with less fat, to help keep your cholesterol down.
Being overweight can contribute to a number of health problems, so try to get your weight under control.
Manage diabetes with exercise, diet, weight control and any medicines prescribed.
Don't forget to take medicines for conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, and talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner if you have any problems with them (NHS, 2024b).

Treatment

My Approach

After a stroke, your hospital and rehabilitation team lead your recovery, and I support their plan. Muscles on the affected side can become tight and overactive (spasticity), and the shoulder, hand and ankle can stiffen. My aims are to ease that tightness, keep your joints healthy, help with swelling and pain, and support your balance and everyday movement.

If you've had surgery, such as an operation on the arteries in your neck, I need your surgeon's okay before any hands-on treatment. I assess how your joints move, your strength and feeling on each side, and your balance and walking.

Hands-On Care

Shorter sessions, with pillows so your limbs rest comfortably
Slow, rhythmical massage and gentle joint movement, never fast or jerky, which can make tightness worse
Supporting a painful shoulder, never pulling on the arm
Gentle lymphatic drainage for a swollen hand or foot, mild warm or cool applications, and lighter pressure where feeling is reduced

Moving and Everyday Tasks

Stretching for the affected side, chest and upper back
Balance, sit-to-stand and walking practice, with a home programme
Setting up a cane or walker; complex needs go to your physiotherapist or occupational therapist
Care for caregivers straining their own neck or back from helping you

I take care around the front of the neck and use lighter pressure if you take blood thinners. At home, test water temperature with your unaffected hand first. If you notice new stroke signs, call 911 straight away (see How to Recognise a Stroke: FAST).

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: Usually visits are once or twice a week early on, then weekly, then spacing out, with a reassessment at about 4 to 6 weeks, all fitted around your rehabilitation team's plan. Most improvement usually comes in the first few months, and many people keep making gains for much longer.

What I Focus On

Working With Your Care Team

Easing Spasticity

Shoulder Care & Positioning

Swelling Control

Balance & Everyday Movement

Sources

References

NHS (2024a) Treatment for a stroke. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/treatment/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
NHS (2024b) Causes of a stroke. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/prevention/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2019, updated 2022) Stroke and transient ischaemic attack in over 16s: diagnosis and initial management (NG128) – Recommendations. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng128/chapter/Recommendations (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2026) Stroke: assess and treat. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/stroke/assess-and-treat (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2025) Brain basics: know your brain. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-know-your-brain (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
NHS (2024c) Symptoms of a stroke. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/symptoms/ (Accessed: 8 October 2026).
NHS (2026) Aspirin. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/low-dose-aspirin/ (Accessed: 8 October 2026).

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooStroke

What It Is

How to Recognise a Stroke: FAST

Stroke Anatomy

Aspirin and Stroke

Self-Care & Treatment

How a Stroke is Treated in Hospital

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Tips

My Approach

Hands-On Care

Moving and Everyday Tasks

Typical Course

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooStroke

What It Is

How to Recognise a Stroke: FAST

Stroke Anatomy

Aspirin and Stroke

Self-Care & Treatment

How a Stroke is Treated in Hospital

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Tips

My Approach

Hands-On Care

Moving and Everyday Tasks

Typical Course

References

Related Conditions

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Baker's Cyst

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Book a session