Stroke Rehabilitation (Neuro Physiotherapy)
MPT (Neurology)-led stroke rehab — retrain movement, balance and daily independence step by step.
After a stroke, the muscles are usually intact — it is the brain’s command lines to them that are damaged. Recovery therefore rides on neuroplasticity: the brain’s ability to reroute functions to healthy areas, which is driven by hundreds of repetitions of meaningful, task-specific movement. That is what neuro physiotherapy delivers — not massage, not passive machines, but structured practice of sitting, standing, stepping, reaching and gripping, graded finely enough that the person succeeds often and is challenged always.
This is Dr. Sushma Singh’s core specialisation — her MPT is in Neurology — and stroke rehabilitation at MBM Physiotherapy reflects that: assessment of tone, strength, balance and functional stage, a personalised plan aimed at the family’s real goals (walking to the toilet unaided, climbing the stairs to the first-floor bedroom, holding a cup), and deliberate training of family members, because in most Indian joint families it is a spouse, son or daughter-in-law doing the daily practice between sessions. Recovery is fastest in the early months, but the door does not slam shut after that — later gains are slower, not impossible.
Who should consider this
- Stroke survivors recently discharged from hospital, cleared by their physician to begin rehabilitation
- One-sided weakness (hemiplegia) affecting the arm, leg or both
- Difficulty sitting unsupported, standing up from a bed or chair, or walking safely
- A hand that has begun moving but cannot yet grip, release or do fine tasks
- Stiffness or tightness (spasticity) pulling the elbow, wrist or ankle into a bent posture
- Survivors months or years past their stroke who plateaued and want a structured push
- Families who need training in safe transfers, positioning and daily home exercises
Before your first session
Bring the hospital story with you — it shapes the plan
- Bring the hospital discharge summary, CT or MRI films and reports, and the full list of current medicines including blood thinners and blood-pressure tablets
- Dress the survivor in loose, front-opening clothing and well-fitting flat footwear — easier with a weak arm, safer for standing practice
- Bring the walking aid, ankle support or splint already in use, if any
- A regular caregiver should attend the first session; the home programme is taught to them as much as to the patient
- Note current abilities honestly — sitting time, steps taken, toilet independence — so goals start from reality, not hope or despair
What happens during treatment
The first session maps where recovery currently stands: tone and tightness in the affected limbs, which movements are emerging and which are absent, sitting and standing balance, transfer ability, and walking pattern if walking has begun — alongside a frank conversation about the goals that matter most to this patient and this household. Treatment starts the same day at the right rung of the ladder, whether that is weight-bearing practice through the affected side, sit-to-stand repetitions, stepping drills, or guided arm and hand tasks. The caregiver learns the day’s exercises hands-on before leaving, because daily repetition at home is where the brain rewires.
Sessions and timeline
Honest expectations, stage by stage: the brain’s recovery is most rapid in the first three to six months, which is why consistent early rehabilitation matters so much; improvement continues after that at a slower rhythm, and even late-stage survivors can gain function with focused practice — but nobody can honestly promise full recovery, and we will not. Sessions typically run two to three times weekly early on, tapering as the family programme matures, with progress re-measured against the first assessment every few weeks; the total course runs months and is reviewed openly rather than sold as a fixed package. One warning every stroke family must hold onto: any NEW facial drooping, new arm weakness, new speech difficulty or sudden severe headache is a medical emergency — go to a hospital immediately, do not wait for the next physiotherapy session.
What it costs
Stroke rehabilitation is a marathon, so costs are discussed in courses rather than single visits: an initial assessment, then blocks of sessions reviewed against measured progress. What drives the total is session frequency and duration of the course, both of which depend on the stage of recovery and how much the trained family programme can carry between visits — a strong home programme genuinely reduces the clinic visits needed.
Call +91 11 4119 4668 for today’s rate — it takes a minute and there are no surprise charges. Ask about block booking for ongoing rehabilitation; a planned course usually costs less per session than paying visit by visit. If travel to the clinic is difficult, ask about arrangements when you call; we will tell you honestly what is possible with current staffing.
Common questions
How much recovery can we expect, and how fast?
It varies with the stroke’s size and location, the survivor’s age and health, and how early and consistently rehabilitation happens. The steepest gains usually come in the first three to six months. At assessment we set measurable goals — sitting time, steps, grip tasks — and review them openly, which is more honest than any percentage promise.
The stroke was over a year ago. Is physiotherapy still worth it?
Often, yes. Late gains are slower and demand more repetition, but task-specific training can still improve walking, balance and arm use years after a stroke — plateaus are frequently a plateau of practice, not of potential. An assessment will tell you frankly whether meaningful targets remain and what they would take.
What exactly should the family do at home?
Three things, all taught hands-on at the clinic: safe transfers and positioning that protect the weak shoulder and prevent falls, the daily exercise set matched to the current stage, and weaving practice into routine — affected hand on the cup, affected leg leading on the step. Ten minutes several times daily beats one long weekly effort, because repetition is the currency of brain rewiring.
Will the tightness (spasticity) in the arm go away?
Spasticity is managed rather than switched off: sustained stretching, correct positioning, weight-bearing through the limb and splinting where appropriate all reduce it, and strengthening the opposite movements improves control. If tightness is severe, we coordinate with your neurologist, since medical options exist alongside therapy. Ignoring it risks fixed contractures, which are far harder to reverse.
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