The Use of Aquatic Therapy as a Stroke Treatment
Dorothee Zuleger, MOT, OTR/L, ATRIC
Tuesday, August 28th, 2018
Aquatic TherapyNeuroplasticity
What is Aquatic Therapy?
Aquatic therapy is a type of therapy that takes place in a pool or other aquatic environment. It is a physical and medical rehabilitation specialty that requires the supervision of a trained professional.
Causes and Treatment for Dystonia
Dorothee Zuleger, MOT, OTR/L, ATRIC
Friday, August 3rd, 2018
What is dystonia?
Dystonia is a type of movement disorder in which muscles in the body contract involuntarily often causing twisting or repetitive movements. Dystonia can range from affecting one part of the body, known as focal dystonia, or can affect multiple/all parts of the body, known as general dystonia. Muscle spasms due to dystonia can be anywhere from mild to severe, impacting daily functioning. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for dystonia, but different medications can alleviate symptoms.
What causes dystonia?
The exact cause of dystonia is currently unknown. It is believed to be known that it may involve nerve-cell communication in areas of the brain. Certain forms of dystonia are inherited. Dystonia can also be secondary to various diseases. These include: Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, traumatic brain injury, stroke, infections, brain tumor, etc.
Areas of the body that may be affected
The areas most commonly affected by dystonia is the neck, the eyelids, jaw, voice box or vocal cords, hand and arm. Often times symptoms worsen with stress and fatigue.
What are treatment options for dystonia?
Doctors might suggest therapy as a form of treatment for dystonia. Physical therapy may help to ease symptoms of dystonia working on balance and mobility. Occupational therapy may be beneficial to aid in remediation or compensation techniques for daily activities. Other treatment options include the use of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS), sensory re-integration, integration of primitive reflexes, biofeedback to learn to actively relax and splinting to prevent soft tissue shortening. Speech therapy can be utilized if dystonia affects the voice of the individual.
Botox injections are another common treatment option for those with dystonia. It is injected into specific muscles that can reduce or eliminate muscle contractions. These injections are typically repeated every three to four months. Other medications target neurotransmitters that affect muscle movement. Some of these medications include: Diazepam, clonazepam, and baclofen. If symptoms are severe, a doctor may recommend deep brain stimulation or selective denervation surgery.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dystonia/
Pain After Stroke
Dorothee Zuleger, MOT, OTR/L, ATRIC
Monday, May 21st, 2018
Central Pain Syndrome (CPS) is a dysfunction of the pain-conducting pathways of the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS includes the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord. CPS occurs when there is damage to an area of the brain that carries lots of sensory pathways.
People often experience CPS as the result of a stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or spinal cord injury. CPS is commonly referred to as neuropathic pain or sometimes as thalamic pain syndrome by medical professionals.
Left Side Neglect Following Stroke – There is more to the picture
Dorothee Zuleger, MOT, OTR/L, ATRIC
Thursday, April 26th, 2018
CognitionNeuroplasticitysensory stimulationVisionVisual Aids
Damage to one side of the brain can cause a lack of attention to the opposite side. Most common is an inattention or neglect to the left side of the body after an injury to the right side of the brain due to stroke or traumatic brain injury. The brain attends to the right side with both hemispheres but attends to the left side with only the right hemisphere.
Recent Study Highlights the Importance of Electrical Stimulation for Spasticity Treatment Following Stroke
NeuroRehab Team
Saturday, April 21st, 2018
BiofeedbackElectrical StimulationElectrode Placement
A recent randomized trial by Yuzer et al., in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases 2017, investigated the effects of functional electrical stimulation of the wrist and finger extensor muscles of patients with chronic stroke who had spasticity of their wrist flexors.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) May Help Stroke Survivors Improve Recovery
NeuroRehab Team
Tuesday, March 27th, 2018
Electrical StimulationNeuroplasticity
Anyone who’s done physical or occupational therapy knows how hard it is not to cheat. The body wants to get back to work, and the easiest way to do that is to use the uninjured limbs to help out. The therapist is there to make sure it’s the injured limb that’s doing the work.
Intensive Arm Exercises After Stroke Improves Strength and Function
NeuroRehab Team
Wednesday, January 17th, 2018
Arm and HandElectrical StimulationNeuroplasticityOccupational TherapyRobotics
Intensive therapy can help people who have suffered a stroke recover motor function—even if the treatment begins a year or more after the stroke occurred. After a stroke, the brain and body can start recovering immediately and can show improvement up to six months afterward.
Improve Functional Mobility With Lower Extremity Stroke Technology
NeuroRehab Team
Tuesday, December 26th, 2017
BalanceBody Weight SupportElectrical StimulationExercise AidsFoot Drop BraceLegLeg BikeMirror TherapyMobilityNeuroplasticity
One of the most common impairments resulting from stroke is paralysis, which can affect a portion or the entire side of the body. Problems with body posture, walking, and balance can be significant. A patient’s rehabilitation should start as soon as he or she is stable. That could be anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks or longer. Established guidelines, as well as a huge body of literature, insist that the earlier therapy is initiated the better.
Stroke Hand Treatment Using Biofeedback Electrical Stimulation
NeuroRehab Team
Monday, September 4th, 2017
Arm and HandBiofeedbackElectrical StimulationHand Function Splints
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) are impacted continuously for may stroke survivors that suffer from limited arm and hand function and movement. Research indicates that Biofeedback and Electrical Stimulation can result in improved mobility and functional use. Biofeedback combined with electrical stimulation (NMES or FES) can be an effective tool in reducing the symptoms of stroke, such as increasing strength and function.
7 Visual Motor Training Devices For Stroke Recovery
NeuroRehab Team
Monday, July 31st, 2017
Following a stroke or other neurological injury, multiple vision disorders can occur including the inability to recognize objects, color vision deficits and difficulty with perceiving various types of motion. Approximately 20% of patients experience permanent visual deficits (Romano JG. J of Neurol Sci. 2008).
According to the National Stroke Association, homonymous hemianopia, which is the loss of one half of the visual field in each eye, is the most common visual disorder. Most people who have vision loss after a stroke do not fully recover their vision. Thankfully, some recovery is possible. Treatment and outcomes will depend on the type of vision impairment and its cause.
Listed below are 7 Visual Motor Training Devices that are currently available on the market that can assist with improving recovery.
5 “Out-of-Shoe” Foot Drop Braces You Should Know About
NeuroRehab Team
Wednesday, July 12th, 2017
Whether you suffered a stroke, living with multiple sclerosis (MS) or experiencing another neurological disorder, experiencing Foot Drop can be quite a struggle. Finding the right support to maintain foot clearance when walking can be challenging at best. Areas of concern include size, comfort, durability and effectiveness.
Listed below are 5 comfortable “out-of-shoe” Foot Drop Braces that are currently available on the market. Although the below braces may be more comfortable to wear, it is important to realize that not everyone will qualify for these lower profile ankle supports. Individuals will need to consult with a healthcare professional to make the most appropriate choice for their needs.
How to Improve Hand Function Following a Stroke
NeuroRehab Team
Thursday, June 1st, 2017
Arm and HandCIMTHand Function Splints
It is not uncommon for individuals to experience decreased hand function and strength following a neurological injury such as stroke. Sadly, even after 6 months following stroke, over 60% of clients are still struggling to achieve full arm and hand recovery (Kwakkel et al., 2003). Moreover, the inability to actively open the hand for pre-grasp activities is a severe limitation for many stroke survivors. The impaired movements lead to decreased independence in leisure and self-care tasks (activities of daily living). Because this limited function is a difficult challenge, traditionally, clients were required to relearn new compensatory movement patterns and one-handed strategies so functional activities could be achieved.
Intensive 3-Day “Stroke Boot Camp” For Patients Now Available
NeuroRehab Team
Sunday, May 7th, 2017
The Stroke Hand and Upper Limb Clinic, offered by occupational therapists specializing in neurorehabilitation, provides an intensive (3 days, 6 hours per day) upper extremity treatment program for patients suffering from neurological impairments such as spasticity and weakness. The specialized stroke clinic, located in Charleston, SC is geared primarily towards clients that struggle with arm and hand function.
Risk for Falls Following Stroke
NeuroRehab Team
Monday, April 24th, 2017
Studies have shown that stroke survivors are twice as likely to fall following a stroke and more than three times as likely as the general population to fall multiple times. About 40 percent of stroke survivors have serious falls within a year of their stroke.
Stroke/Neuro Products That Improve Strength and Function
NeuroRehab Team
Monday, April 3rd, 2017
Arm and HandCognitionCommunicationFoot Drop BraceLegMobilityNeuroplasticityVision
It is true that recovering from a stroke will be an uphill battle for many, however, it is also accurate that the latest research findings regarding neuro recovery are more promising than ever before. How serious are you with embracing evidence into your practice? As a clinician, are you stuck using numerous theoretical-based treatment concepts that have not scientifically been proven to be effective?
Listed below are some of the common interventions supported by research that have shown positive results. How many of the below techniques are in your current therapy toolbox? If just a few, then why?
Best Electrode Position and Placement for Leg and Foot Stroke Rehabilitation
NeuroRehab Team
Friday, March 24th, 2017
Electrical StimulationElectrode Placement
Electrical stimulation, also referred to as e-stim, NMES, or FES, can be an effective tool in reducing the symptoms of stroke, such as increasing strength and function. The success of one’s recovery using electrical stimulation will rely heavily on proper electrode placement.
Listed below are some key video examples of lower limb electrode positioning by Axelgaard. Click on the thumbnail below to visit the video link.
Swollen Arm and Hand (Edema) Following Stroke
NeuroRehab Team
Monday, March 6th, 2017
Edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body’s tissues. Although edema can affect any part of your body, it’s most commonly noticed in the hands, arms, feet, ankles and legs. Edema occurs from a variety of reasons. For individuals who are inactive, a collection of fluid in the ankles and legs, fingers and hands can be seen. Individuals that are paralyzed after a neurological injury such as stroke, may have fluid collection just on the affected side.
15 Things Caregivers Must Know After A Stroke
NeuroRehab Team
Tuesday, January 31st, 2017
It can be quite challenging caring for someone with a stroke. When a loved one is first hospitalized immediately after a stroke, families usually assist the hospital team with key personal information as well as convey patient care preferences and serve as the connection between the hospital staff and the patient. You suddenly become the patient’s voice and chief advocate.
Stroke Recovery Using Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)
NeuroRehab Team
Monday, January 23rd, 2017
Arm and HandCIMTNeuroplasticity
What is it?
Constraint-induced movement therapy (CI, CIT, or CIMT) is a form of rehabilitation therapy that improves upper extremity function in stroke and other neurological injuries by increasing the use of their affected upper limb. The focus of CIMT is to combine restraint of the unaffected limb and intensive use of the affected limb. Types of restraints include a sling, a splint, a sling combined with a resting hand splint, a half glove, and a mitt. Determination of the type of restraint used for therapy depends on the required level of safety vs. intensity of therapy.
New Online Directory Collects Reviews of Stroke Rehab
NeuroRehab Team
Monday, January 2nd, 2017
A new, non-biased website dedicated to assisting patients, families and health professionals with identifying appropriate neuro-rehab solutions and resources has recently launched. The directory is specifically designed for individuals with neurological injuries such as stroke, brain injury, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury.
