With the unique therapies offered at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, recovery and restoration of function are more than possible—they’re probable, even months or years after a stroke.

The Conventional Approach to Stroke

Every year three-quarters of a million Americans suffer a stroke, and the majority of those who survive are left with lingering speech, motor, and vision problems. The greatest tragedy is that, despite what your doctor might have told you, recovery is possible—months and even years after a stroke.

There have been great advances in recent years in the treatment of acute stroke. Problem is clot-busting drugs and other therapies must be administered within hours of a stroke, and many fail to get treatment within that window of time.

Stroke survivors are usually treated with anticoagulants and other drugs to prevent repeat strokes, and some undergo carotid endarterectomy to remove blockages from the carotid arteries that deliver blood to the brain. Most patients also engage in physical, occupational, and/or speech rehabilitation. Such programs are very helpful, but after a few months, patients are told they’ve regained all the function they’re going to regain. In essence, they’re given up on.

Please understand that this is absolutely not true. With the therapies offered at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, you can have dramatic improvements in motor and cognitive function, no matter how long it’s been since your stroke.

How We Treat Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off, usually by a blood clot. Neurons in the affected area, deprived of oxygen, begin to die. But a stroke is like a bomb blast. There is a central area of irreparably injured tissues surrounded by a transitional zone of cells that are not so heavily damaged. These cells in the transitional zone exist in a kind of limbo—they’re alive but not functional. That’s what we’re targeting in our stroke rehabilitation program.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy “Wakes Up” Damaged Cells
These dormant nerve cells can be revitalized by increasing their supply of oxygen, and that’s why the cornerstone of the Whitaker Wellness stroke rehabilitation program is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). HBOT involves breathing concentrated oxygen under pressure in a special hyperbaric chamber. It literally floods the brain—and the entire body—with life-sustaining oxygen. Exposure to these massive infusions of oxygen results in remarkable benefits that cannot be achieved by any other therapy.

Hyperbaric oxygen “wakes up” damaged neurons. It improves microcirculation (the flow of blood thorough the tiniest capillaries) and relieves brain swelling (edema). It also reduces the free radical burden, a major contributor to nerve cell death after a stroke. Furthermore, it mobilizes stem cells, which migrate to injured areas of promote healing.

In short, HBOT acts on many different fronts to protect the brain from further damage and to help it begin repairing and rebuilding. With HBOT and the other therapies offered at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, patients who have suffered a recent stroke can avoid or minimize paralysis, speech difficulties, and other impairment, while those whose stroke occurred months or years previously can make significant strides toward greater function and independence.

Personalized Lifestyle Program for Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation

Patients who enroll in the Whitaker Wellness Back to Health Program work with our physicians and professional staff to develop an appropriate diet, exercise, and nutritional supplementation program. Studies suggest that patients who have had a stroke are at increased risk of repeat stroke, so we place a lot of emphasis on prevention. We’ll help you reduce your blood pressure and other risk factors with safe, natural therapies. We will also test you for sleep apnea, which is another significant risk factor for stroke

With the unique therapies offered at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, recovery and restoration of function following a stroke are more than possible—they’re probable.

Unique Therapies for Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation

To further facilitate brain cell recovery, we offer other therapies that improve circulation and delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. These include intravenous glutathione, a potent antioxidant with proven benefits for any type of neurological injury or degeneration. Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) and EDTA chelation also improve overall cardiovascular health.

Another essential component of our program is physical therapy. Skilled professionals help our patients restore and increase their strength, range of motion, flexibility, coordination, balance and endurance. Undergoing physical therapy in conjunction with hyperbaric oxygen and other therapies at the Whitaker Wellness Institute results in much more significant improvements than with physical therapy alone.

Real-Life Success Stories

Click here to read about how other people just like you used hyperbaric oxygen therapy and other integrative treatments offered at the Whitaker Wellness Institute to restore function following a stroke.

Additional Information

Click here to read more about Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery.

Contact Us

To learn more about becoming a patient and receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy and other integrative treatments at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, contact a Patient Services Representative at (800) 488-1500 or click here.