Methods of treatment of kinesthetic apraxia and its causes
Apraxia, translated from Greek, means "inaction", characterized by a violation of the performance of targeted or arbitrary movements of varying complexity. Any human activity, carried out consciously, is carried out in stages. Motor skills are remembered and can be recreated according to the saved scheme. At the first stage, there is an incentive to conscious action, for which the left temporal-parietal region is responsible, with total apraxia occurring.
The causes of the disease can be various factors:
- Pathological changes in the vessels in the frontal lobes of the brain;
- Presence of ischemic stroke of the brain in a patient's anamnesis;
- Malignant and benign neoplasms of the brain;
- Postponed neuroinfections;
- Alzheimer's disease.
Types of the disease
There are several types of apraxia:
- Ideator - the patient is not able to plan his actions, use the intended items. Doing some movements is impossible in the correct sequence.
- Kinesthetic apraxia - loss of somatotypic and spatial representations to patients, violation of understanding of the process of performing any actions and movements.
- Spatial - loss of ability to reproduce geometric figures, visual-spatial orientation is disturbed.
- Ideomotor - the patient plans his actions, but can not implement them with the help of hands.
- Kinetic apraxia - there is an awkwardness when trying to perform complex movements, often limiting the effect of one limb.
Also distinguish such types of this disease: apraxia walk( gait violation), oral( speech disturbance), conductor( difficulty in repetition of actions for someone while maintaining independent movements), dynamic( difficulty remembering movements).
Among the causes of apraxia, ischemic stroke of the brain is in the first place. Stroke of the brain is expressed in acute violation of the blood circulation of the brain, as a result of which its tissue is damaged, functions are impaired because of insufficient supply of the required volume of blood to the brain areas. These disorders often lead to the formation of kinesthetic apraxia.
Diagnosis of kinesthetic apraxia
For the correct diagnosis, the patient is offered to perform the following tasks:
- For the right hand - a repetition of the hands of the examiner( doctor), a proposal to use imaginary objects.
- For both hands - a repetition of the movements of the doctor's hands and a repetition of the position of the brush.
Kinesthetic apraxia in patients in the early-recovery period after ischemic stroke most often develops in the contralateral arm relative to the side of the stroke( about 83% of patients).In the ipsilateral arm, kinesthetic apraxia is observed in fewer patients. Most often this type of apraxia develops in patients with lesions of the left cerebral hemisphere, with stroke of the right hemisphere it is much less common.
Methods for treating this disease
It is very important to conduct a comprehensive examination of patients in the early recovery period after an ischemic stroke in order to detect symptoms of apraxia. After setting the specific for this type of disease and the diagnosis, determine the direction of treatment and medical rehabilitation.
Treatment of patients is based on an individual approach, but without exception, all patients need constant monitoring of the neurologist, they need outside assistance for simple actions such as dressing, eating. Very often a qualified psychologist and speech therapist are required.
In addition to the treatment of the underlying disease, treatment is performed aimed at restoring the motor functions. This is assisted by physiotherapy, massage, exercises on special simulators. Complete recovery of apraxia, unfortunately, is not guaranteed, but with proper treatment of ischemic stroke and adequate rehabilitation measures, it is possible to alleviate symptoms and improve the condition of patients.
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