Do you ever bump into things?

Hi Amy, I had a cerebellar stroke also and used to bump into things like door frames and side of beds. But after practising balance exercises for about an hour a day for 18 months I no longer bump into things and my balance is good for my age.

Good luck,

Ian

Hey Ian,

What types of exercises did you do? 

D

Hi Diana, I had excellent physiotherapy and had ten weeks twice a week for free through the public hospital system in Perth that gave me some of the balance excercise ideas.

I stood on one leg and brought the other leg up to my thigh, did hamstring stretches without holding on to anything, stood and  bent forward on one leg with the other leg stretched out behind me and touched the grass, used about an 2 inch  air filled mat which was unbalanced and squatted on it, practised kneeling on a excercise ball, closed my eyes and moved my head through about 90 degrees on each side. I did each  exercises each day until I lost my balance. I also did push ups and core exercises contracting my core muscles and holding them in until it was a bit painful. Core strength is meant to aid  balance. 

I was very lucky with my stroke that  balance was the only physical effect of my stroke.

Thanks Ian, I think seeing what other people are doing may help some people. We're holding online talks with basic stroke information for those without discharge plans but sharing information is helpful.

For others reading Ian's advice please contact your GP and StrokeLine 1800 787 653 if you need more support. 

Yes  9 years post stroke I still need to watch myself going through doorways. My body wants to go left that was stroke side. I do say to myself “watch doorway” .   Jenny

Hi Diana me too suffer from similer problems . This happens mostly due to spasticity and numbness once this two things are gone u will get proper movements back

Hi Diana, I was also a keen push bike rider before my stroke. After my stroke I found it difficult to ride as  when I turned my head to check for cars I felt I would fall off due to lack of balance. I also could not change the gears when riding and had to swing my leg over the bar and then push off from a stationary position. But I can mount a bike normally now, change gears and check for cars when I am riding along. Fortunately my wife or son rode with me and acted as my eyes when crossing roads.

The same physio that I mentioned above devised an exercise to overcome these problems. I faced the corners of a wall, and threw about a 15 cm soft ball at the wall at about shoulder height and caught the ball. I stood about half a metre from the wall turned my head to face the wall at which I was throwing the ball at the same time lifting my opposite leg slightly off the ground.

This greatly helped my push bike riding ability and I have just returned from about a 10 km ride this morning by myself. I have improved so much that I plan to start riding with the bike riding club that I used to ride with before my stroke. But I will wait to it gets a bit cooler in Perth.