Friday, June 24th, 2016
Last modified on December 29th, 2019
I graduated with a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy in 2008 from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Shortly after receiving my Masters, I moved to Houston, Texas. For the past eight years, I have worked all throughout the medical center in Houston, including, but not limited to: TIRR Memorial Hermann, Memorial Hermann, MD Anderson, Supplemental Healthcare and now currently for Rehab Without Walls. During these eight years, I have specialized in neurological rehabilitation, and I have been very active with two non-profits: Rehab Services Volunteer Project (RSVP Houston) and the United Spinal Association Houston (formerly National Spinal Cord Injury Association Houston). Both organizations were created to help individuals living with neurological injuries.
I have worked with Saebo products – more specifically, the SaeboStretch and SaeboFlex – for at least seven years. I absolutely recommend them for all healthcare practitioners as Saebo products are unique in many ways.
Tuesday, May 31st, 2016
Last modified on July 27th, 2022
Testimonial from AnnaMaria Baraglia
My love story with Saebo began in October 2008. I was just released from in-patient rehab to a day rehab. The day rehab was 3 hours a day for 3 days a week. My rehabilitation plan was for speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. The therapy trifecta! I was still in the early stages of my stroke recovery, so my brain was in the prime to be rewired. I was making small gains here and there, but recovery was SLOW. I really was getting discouraged. From an athletic 27 year old woman that spent multiple hours in the gym, went to a 27 year old woman that wasn’t able to really walk, dress herself, or remember what I just ate. It was frustrating!!!
Henry Hoffman
Wednesday, May 25th, 2016
Last modified on February 10th, 2020
HealthcareStroke StatisticsYoung Strokes
May is stroke awareness month and we wanted to shed some light on young stroke to bring more awareness too it. Typically, when you think of a stroke, you think of it happening in people that are over 65+. In reality though, it can happen at any age. It is true that your stroke risk increases with age, but stroke in young people does happen to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. There is even statistics showing that the number of cases of young stroke in increasing. We have put together an infographic that highlights the facts about young stroke and ways that we can progress towards prevention, care and recovery.
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
Tuesday, May 17th, 2016
Last modified on February 3rd, 2023
Caregiver AdviceOccupational Therapist InfoPhysical Therapist InfoRehabilitation NursingTherapist Advice
We had a chance to connect with Occupational Therapist Mandy Chamberlain to get her helpful and inspiring stroke recovery advice and patient stories.
Henry Hoffman
Tuesday, May 10th, 2016
Last modified on April 25th, 2022
Caregiver AdvicePainTherapist Advice
Caregivers are the unsung heroes of stroke recovery. After a stroke, family and relationship dynamics can change dramatically. Trying to care for someone that isn’t able to do or say things like they used to can take awhile to get used to and the recovery process can sometimes be slow. Sometimes you can even care so much for your loved one, you forget to care about yourself.
Having support and advice from people that have been there can really help new or even seasoned caregivers. We interviewed some of the best occupational therapists on the internet for their top tips to help give advice for caregivers and how occupational therapist can help in the recovery process too. Here are the best caregiver tips they recommended.
Wednesday, April 20th, 2016
Last modified on May 15th, 2020
Dr. Christopher Walker has performed as a soloist in eleven countries, spanning three continents, and has shared the stage with such great performers as Frederick Fennell, Eugene Rousseau, and The United States Air Force Academy Band. He has performed for the Vice President of the United States.
In military bands, Master Sergeant Walker has served as a saxophone, flute, and clarinet soloist, conductor, and musical group leader. Recently, Dr. Walker performed a tour of Norway in honor of the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian constitution, giving performances and presenting guest lectures. Dr. Walker serves on the faculties of Georgia Southwestern State University and Darton State College.
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.
