Background

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Mr K, born in 1974, experienced a right-sided haemorrhagic stroke in November 2022. Due to significant swelling and increased pressure on the brain, he underwent a decompressive craniectomy, in which part of the skull was temporarily removed to relieve pressure. The skull defect was subsequently repaired during a later surgical procedure.

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Following his hospitalisation, Mr K had no active movement on his left side. His right side had also become significantly weakened following the prolonged period of immobility.

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He had very limited trunk control and was unable to sit upright independently without external support.

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Starting Training

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I began working with Mr K in November 2023.

At this stage, one of our first priorities was developing enough trunk and thoracic control for him to maintain an upright seated position independently.

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We initially worked predominantly from lying and supported positions, gradually developing his ability to control his upper body and strengthening his lower body within the movement capacity he had available.

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As his strength and control improved, we progressed towards supported standing. From there, we began introducing weight-bearing exercises, progressing from simply maintaining a standing position to shifting his weight, standing predominantly through one leg while moving the other, and gradually developing the capacity required for stepping and walking.

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Progress

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Mr K is now able to sit upright independently in a normal chair without lateral support and can maintain this position comfortably for extended periods.

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He has progressed from being largely bed-bound and unable to sit upright independently to being able to stand and walk using a walking stick.

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He is also able to get into and out of a car with assistance from his wife, allowing him to leave the house and spend significantly more time outside his home.

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Impact on Daily Life

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Perhaps the most meaningful change has been what this increased mobility has allowed Mr K to do outside of training.

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He can now spend entire days outside the house with his wife and family and has been able to visit relatives with his wife's assistance — activities that were previously extremely difficult or inaccessible to him.

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These improvements have given him considerably greater participation in everyday family life and a level of independence that was not available to him when we began working together.

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Continuing Rehabilitation

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Mr K continues to train with me two to three times per week.

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Although he has made substantial progress, his rehabilitation is ongoing and there remains significant potential for further improvement. We continue to work on his strength, movement control, balance and walking capacity with the aim of progressively increasing his mobility and independence.