Henry Hoffman
Friday, May 20th, 2016
Last modified on August 16th, 2021
Brain plasticity, or neuroplasticity, is the substrate of most recovery from stroke. One of the most fundamental drivers of cortical rewiring in stroke survivors is salience. Salience is a term used in neuroscience to describe the phenomenon that the brain pays attention to what it finds important.
Stroke survivors and treating clinicians would do well to focus on the importance of salience. Michael Merzenich, the great neuroscientist who developed the cochlear implant, puts the importance of salience this way, “If it’s not important to you, it won’t be important to your brain.” For example, when is the last time you did an algebraic equation? Algebra is not salient — not important — to most of us.
Henry Hoffman
Friday, April 15th, 2016
Last modified on January 14th, 2022
Measuring progress towards stroke recovery is essential. Progress can be slow and difficult to see unless it is specifically measured. By not measuring progress, survivors can appear to to plateauing, rather than showing the small progress that they are actually accomplishing. Survivors and caregivers want the best treatment based on benefits compared to risk and cost. Evidence-based practice demands valid outcome measurement to prove cost effectiveness.
Henry Hoffman
Monday, April 11th, 2016
Last modified on December 29th, 2019
Electrical StimulationEvidence-Based TreatmentHand and ArmLegs and MobilitySaeboFlexTask-Oriented Training
Which Recovers First After A Stroke – The Arm or The Leg? By Peter G Levine
“Which comes back first after a stroke, the arm or the leg?”
First-year OT and PT students know the answer to this question: the leg. However, the reasons driving the leg’s speedy recovery are not so simple.
Here are some reasons to rethink this “leg comes back first” perspective.
Henry Hoffman
Thursday, March 31st, 2016
Last modified on December 29th, 2019
Evidence-Based TreatmentMental ImageryOccupational Therapist InfoPainPhysical Therapist InfoTherapist AdviceYoung Strokes
How “Good” Stroke Survivors Help All Stroke Survivors By Peter G Levine
When physical and occupational therapists read stroke-specific clinical research, they are often skeptical. One of the main reasons for therapists being dubious of research is that research often reveals something contrary to his or her clinical observations.
Henry Hoffman
Friday, March 25th, 2016
Last modified on December 29th, 2019
Caregiver AdviceEvidence-Based TreatmentHealthcareOccupational Therapist InfoPhysical Therapist InfoRehabilitation NursingTherapist Advice
Helping Stroke Survivors with Evidence-Based Practice By Peter G Levine
Everyone talks a big game with evidence-based practice (EBP) in stroke. You can’t go to any occupational or physical therapy seminars without the term being thrown around like confetti. Beyond the platitudes, what is EBP? How can EBP be clinically implemented to help stroke survivors? Finally, what are the best resources to access EBP for stroke?
Henry Hoffman
Monday, March 14th, 2016
Last modified on November 7th, 2023
Evidence-Based TreatmentTask-Oriented Training
MedBridge provides clinicians and healthcare organizations a comprehensive education platform that includes clinical education, patient education, and home exercise programs to advance their knowledge, engage patients in their recovery, and improve outcomes.
Do you feel like you’re in a rut? Always doing the same thing? Feeling uninspired? News flash: If you’re bored, your patients are too. It’s time for a change! Some of the most exciting research today is in neuroplasticity and the impact we have as therapists.
Henry Hoffman
Monday, March 14th, 2016
Last modified on April 25th, 2022
MedBridge provides clinicians and healthcare organizations a comprehensive education platform that includes clinical education, patient education, and home exercise programs to advance their knowledge, engage patients in their recovery, and improve outcomes.
By now, many of you have heard the term the “sixth vital sign” when referring to walking speed. We are all accustomed to taking vital signs to assess the status of our patients, but Fritz and Lusardi remind us about another simple test that gives great insight into the functional status of our patients. These authors suggest that walking speed is “almost the perfect measure.”
Saebo
Thursday, February 18th, 2016
Last modified on May 15th, 2020
EvaluationMedicareTherapist Advice
This guest post was provided to us by Hoang Tran from Hands On Therapy
So maybe you have had an injury to your body such as a broken bone or surgery, an injury to your brain such as a stroke or a brain injury, or have a condition that is affecting your ability to function independently like you were before such as Parkinson’s. If any one of these conditions affect how you live your life and how you want to function with less difficulty, you may be looking for an Occupational Therapist. I am and occupational therapist and certified hand therapist. With some 15 years of experience now, I’ve had the opportunity to see a great deal of patients in various settings and with various conditions. I have been asked a lot of questions along the way, and there are also a lot of questions that I want my patients to make sure they ask when seeking out certain type of help.
Henry Hoffman
Monday, February 8th, 2016
Last modified on July 27th, 2022
Caregiver AdviceContracturesEvidence-Based TreatmentMobilityNeuroplasticityOccupational Therapist InfoPhysical Therapist InfoRehabilitation NursingstrengtheningStroke Rehabilitation ExercisesTask-Oriented TrainingTherapist Advice
After a stroke, many patients struggle with poor control and strength in the muscles on one side of the body. While the focus of recovery is often on the limbs and facial muscles, without a strong core, extremities and the rest of the body may suffer. With the help of these core exercises for stroke recovery, you can continue to make recovery progress at home on your own.
Saebo
Tuesday, November 24th, 2015
Last modified on September 9th, 2021
Evidence-Based TreatmentHand and ArmstrengtheningTask-Oriented TrainingWeakness
If you are setting out on a hand strengthening program following a stroke or spinal cord injury, you are seeking to retrain your muscles, joints, mind and central nervous system. All were injured during your neurological event, and all are in need of healing.
Retraining and strengthening a hand is complex and difficult work. It involves much more than going through the mechanical motions. The biggest challenge may be focusing your mind on the healing process, even as your brain, itself, continues to heal. Listed below are four, simple but powerful, strategies to help stick to your hand strengthening program.
