Hemiplegia After Stroke
Complete Guide to Causes, Treatment & Rehabilitation (2026)
Hemiplegia — paralysis of one side of the body — is the most common complication of stroke. This complete guide explains everything families need to know: causes, symptoms, treatment options, and how to maximize recovery during the Golden Period.
Quick Answer (TL;DR)
- Hemiplegia = complete paralysis of one body side. #1 cause: stroke (80%+).
- 70-80% recovery is possible with intensive rehab in the Golden Period (first 3-6 months).
- AHA/ASA recommends 2-3 hours/day, 5 days/week. Specialty centers outperform home care by 25-30%.
- Sanpiti Rehabilitation Center — PM&R + TMS + 9 branches from THB 65,900/month.
1. What Causes Hemiplegia?
Hemiplegia occurs when one side of the brain is damaged — the opposite side of the body becomes paralyzed. Four main causes:
- Ischemic stroke (80%) — blood clot blocks brain artery
- Hemorrhagic stroke (20%) — brain blood vessel ruptures
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) — accident, fall, impact
- Brain tumor or infection — mass effect on motor cortex
2. Symptoms — 6 Key Signs
- Arm & leg weakness on one side (Upper Motor Neuron pattern)
- Facial droop (mouth corner falls)
- Slurred speech / aphasia
- Dysphagia (swallowing difficulty)
- Spasticity (2-6 weeks post-stroke)
- Hemispatial neglect (ignoring affected side)
3. Recovery Timeline — 5 Phases
0-72h Acute · 3-14d Early Mobilization · 2wk-3mo Golden Period 🌟 · 3-6mo Subacute · 6mo+ Chronic
The Annals of Neurology (2019) confirmed rehab within the first 90 days is 3-4× more effective than starting later, due to peak neuroplasticity.
4. Treatment Options
- Acute care: rtPA (within 4.5h), mechanical thrombectomy (within 24h), surgery
- Physical therapy: Bobath, PNF, CIMT, Motor Relearning
- Occupational + Speech therapy: ADL training, dysphagia, aphasia
- Triple-Tech: TMS (brain stim) + PMS (peripheral) + ESWT (spasticity)
5. Recovery Outcomes
Minor: 90%+ · Moderate: 60-80% · Severe: 30-50% · Very severe: 10-30% (Lancet Neurology 2010, Proportional Recovery Rule, Prabhakaran 2015).
6. How to Choose a Rehabilitation Center
Look for: (1) PM&R + neurologist team, (2) 2-3 sessions/day intensity, (3) TMS/PMS/ESWT technology, (4) 1:1 therapist ratio, (5) stroke-specific experience.
Hemiplegia Rehabilitation at Sanpiti
PM&R physician + Triple-Tech + 9 branches across Bangkok metro. From THB 65,900/month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sanpiti Medical Team
Led by Dr. Songpot Tanprasert (PM&R) and PT Kultinee Glinpoon (License 9032)
References: AHA/ASA (2019, 2016), Lancet Neurology (2010), Annals of Neurology (2019), AVERT Trial (2015)