If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke, you may be asking:
These are common and valid concerns. Recovery after a stroke isn’t just about time; it’s about action. At West Henday Physical Therapy, we understand that every stroke survivor’s journey is unique. Some clients come in shortly after hospital discharge. Others seek therapy months or even years later, hoping to regain strength, coordination, or confidence they feel they’ve lost.
No matter where you are in the recovery timeline, our approach to Stroke Physiotherapy in Edmonton focuses on helping you move better, feel more stable, and return to activities that matter most in your daily life.
At West Henday, we don’t rush progress, and we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Stroke rehabilitation is carefully tailored to:
We begin with a full assessment to understand how your brain and body are currently working together. From there, we develop a plan focused on restoring functional movement, one step at a time.
Our clinic works with a broad range of post-stroke concerns, including:
At West Henday Physical Therapy, we concentrate on techniques that reconnect the brain and body, helping you regain control over movement and rebuild everyday function. These methods are chosen based on how the stroke has affected your balance, strength, mobility, or coordination, and adjusted over time to match your pace of recovery.
This hands-on method helps retrain automatic postures and movement patterns. We work on transitioning through positions like lying to sitting, sitting to standing, or half-kneel to upright. These movements encourage smoother muscle activation and balance reactions.
We retrain walking mechanics using parallel bars, floor markers, or resistance bands. Emphasis is placed on heel strike, foot clearance, and step symmetry. For those with “foot drop” or uneven stride, ankle taping or assistive cues may also be used.
For arm recovery, we may gently restrict use of the stronger limb to encourage activity in the weaker one. This helps promote neural recovery and functional use of the affected side for grasping, reaching, and coordination.
Where suitable, we apply low-level electrical impulses to specific muscles that struggle to activate voluntarily, such as ankle dorsiflexors, quadriceps, or hand muscles. This encourages muscle firing and helps reinforce brain-muscle communication.
We use tools like foam pads, tilt boards, or soft balls to challenge joint position sense and balance control. This helps reduce falls, improve stability, and retrain reflexes that support walking and standing.
If swallowing or facial control is affected, we work through posture adjustments, jaw and tongue movement drills, and breathing coordination exercises. These help restore safer, more controlled eating and communication.
This visual-motor technique uses a mirror to “trick” the brain into thinking the weaker side is moving like the stronger one. It can be especially useful for early hand or arm movement recovery.
For clients experiencing dizziness, scanning difficulty, or balance loss due to visual field disruption, we include head movement tracking, eye-hand coordination tasks, and gaze stabilization drills.
Each person receives a tailored plan with exercises to recover from a stroke at home, such as stair stepping, wall-assisted sit-to-stand drills, or supported arm raises. These exercises reinforce clinic work and build daily confidence.
These techniques are never used in isolation; they’re layered together based on what your body needs most at each stage of recovery.
Your sessions at West Henday Physical Therapy are built around your pace and progress. A typical session may include:
We begin by reviewing your current function, energy level, and any concerns that have come up since your last visit.
We’ll work on exercises or movements that help activate underused muscles, retrain movement sequences, and improve balance or coordination.
This may include walking, reaching, turning, or transitioning between sitting and standing, all based on your goals.
We offer feedback, encouragement, and clear cues so you understand what your body needs to relearn each movement.
You’ll receive exercises, pacing tips, or movement reminders you can use safely at home to keep progressing.
There’s no one-size-fits-all timeline. Some people see changes within a few weeks. Others continue for several months, especially when working on complex or long-standing mobility challenges.
Our team will help you understand what’s realistic and work with you to build a plan that supports both short-term function and long-term recovery.
Yes. With neuroplasticity, progress is possible even months or years post-stroke.
Yes, guided movement can help retrain brain-muscle connections.
Stroke can disrupt rhythm and coordination; gait retraining restores natural movement.
Yes, some techniques focus on posture, facial movement, and safe swallowing.
We start where you are seated, supported, or assisted and build from there.
You don’t have to face recovery alone. At West Henday Physical Therapy, we offer compassionate, clear support through every step of your stroke rehabilitation. Whether you’re early in the journey or hoping to regain function months or years later, we’re here to guide you with care, skill, and respect for your pace.
📍Searching for stroke physiotherapy Edmonton services that help you move forward?
Let’s have a conversation. Book your initial session today.
© 2025 West Henday Physical Therapy – Developed by Linkbuffer Studios & Research Labs All rights reserved.