Learning to live with hemiplegia is a difficult process. From adjusting new exercise habits to re-learning how to do everyday tasks like cooking, almost every aspect of life will need to change.

Exercises for Hemiplegia:

As with any condition that affects a person’s freedom of movement, exercise can be a critical part of both alleviating the symptoms of hemiplegia and improving a hemiplegic’s overall physical health and mental well-being.

For anyone planning to engage in physical activity with a disabling condition, it is important to consult with a doctor before starting hemiplegia exercises. Otherwise, there is a risk of overexertion, which can make injuries and hemiplegia symptoms worse rather than alleviate them.

Some potential hemiplegia exercises to consider:

Strength Training

Some strength training exercises are beneficial for hemiplegics. The training recommended may vary depending on the type of hemiplegia, but common exercises include knee rolling, single-leg drop-outs, and single-leg bridges, among others. In some cerebral hemiplegia patients, this can help improve range of motion and functionality in the affected limbs—though the result is rather unpredictable.

Muscle Stretches

Stretching specific muscle groups helps hemiplegics prevent some side effects of hemiplegia, such as joint/muscle pain from not moving limbs for too long and muscular atrophy. Spastic hemiplegics may need assistance in safely moving their contracted muscles without injury.

Seated Aerobics

Seated aerobics provide a relatively safe way to burn calories and improve health from virtually anywhere. This form of exercise is recommended for hemiplegics recovering from a spinal cord injury.

Water Aerobics                         

This hemiplegia exercise allows hemiplegics to relax their muscles and support the full weight of their bodies relatively easily as they stretch and work on their range of motion. Some rehabilitation programs use water aerobics to help people with paralysis to get out of the chair and experience some freedom of movement as they work muscles that are often neglected during in-chair exercises.

Sensory Problems:

Sensory problems, such as impaired vision, hearing, spatial awareness, and/or balance are common for hemiplegics—particularly in cases where the hemiplegia was caused by brain injury or infections.

Overcoming changes in spatial awareness, vision, and other senses may require a prolonged period of occupational therapy where therapists help hemiplegics adjust to the changes over time.

Personal Hygiene

Bladder and bowel control issues combined with a significant reduction in mobility can make maintaining personal hygiene a major challenge. Hemiplegics may need to establish a rigid hygienic routine that they follow every day to make doing things like changing catheters and taking care of other hygiene needs a habit.

Cooking

Limited mobility can be severely challenging to deal with in the kitchen. Hemiplegics may have extreme difficulty in reaching over a hot stove or standing up (even with crutches or other mobility aids) to reach high cabinets and shelves.

In many cases, the kitchen setup requires redesigning to improve accessibility from a wheelchair—including using lower counters and smaller appliances. Having a second person (such as a family member or live-in assistant) to help prepare meals and take care of the dishes can also be an enormous help.

Eating and Drinking

Re-learning how to eat with one hand is difficult for many hemiplegics (especially with their non-dominant hand). Hemiplegics may spend time with both physical and occupational therapists to build strength in their functioning hands and remaster the fine motor control needed to eat regular meals. There may even be difficulty swallowing due to muscle weakness and discoordination if the hemiplegia is due to a brain injury or stroke.

Some hemiplegics may change their eating habits, avoiding foods that normally require two hands to properly eat (like tough steaks where they would hold the meat in place with a fork while cutting it). They may also change how foods are prepared, so they are easier to eat one-handed.

Housework

Getting into the nooks and crannies of a home to clear dust and dirt is made much more difficult with one functioning arm and leg. Hemiplegics who want to get common housework tasks (like doing dishes and sweeping their floors) done on their own may need to adjust the layout of their homes to make every place easier to reach.

Some tools, like robot vacuums, can make the task of sweeping easier—though cleaning and maintaining the robot itself can be a challenge on its own. It is a common practice to have a family member or a live-in assistant to help with common housework tasks.

Dressing

Getting dressed when one side of the body is weak or unable to move can be frustrating. Tasks like buttoning a shirt or tying a shoelace can feel virtually impossible to do with one hand. However, there are some assistive devices, tips, and tricks that hemiplegics can use when getting dressed.

For example, the American Stroke Association advises people to “choose loose-fitting clothes and silky fabrics” because they are easier to slip on and off than coarser fabrics. They also recommend starting with the affected side of the body when putting on shirts, pants, stockings, etc.

If you find tying one-handed knots or securing small buttons to be difficult, then consider avoiding clothes that use lots of buttons or shoes with laces—opt for shirts with fewer buttons (like polos or t-shirts) and slip-on loafers or Velcro shoes instead. Adding rings or strings to zipper pulls can make them easier to move, switching to clip-on ties, and using button hooks can also help make getting dressed easier.