Archive for Neurorehabilitation
How can I manage my fatigue after a stroke, is a common question we are often asked. Fatigue after a stroke can be an ongoing symptom that many stroke survivors battle with everyday.
Some days are good and some days it’s a herculean effort to get out of bed.
There are many questions that come up when we meet and work with folk who are trying to breakthrough the limitations that fatigue places upon them.
Common Survivor Questions About Fatigue After A Stroke
- How long will the my fatigue last after a stroke?
- Why is my fatigue after a stroke still happening after 6months?
- What can I do to work around my fatigue
- Screw fatigue! I’m just going to do what I want and see how I go- is this ok?
- Can my fatigue get worse after a stroke?
- What can I do to get better so that fatigue after my stroke doesn’t get in the way of my life?
- No one understands this- it’s so hidden- how can I let other people know how to help me manage my fatigue after a stroke?
What Can I Do To Help My MS At Home
There is an emerging interest in the role of lifestyle intervention for neurological conditions and MS being one of these conditions gaining more media attention. In this article we discuss emerging MS Lifestyle Interventions and Research with a special focus on answering what I can do to help my MS at home.
The world is seeing an increase in MS diagnoses – about three-quarters of them women but there are differences between regions for example between Australia and Japan ( MS Paris 2017).
In this article we refer to the work of Professor George Jelinek, a pioneer into lifestyle interventions for MS, which gratefully has drawn more research attention into the role of lifestyle medicine and the effect it has on reducing risk associated with MS.
So, What Can I Do To Help My MS At Home?
It’s worth declaring right up front, according to the MS Research Australia, “everyone’s MS and their individual circumstances are different meaning that the treatment and management of their disease is also very individual.… .. Click here to read the rest
Functional Tremor Rehabilitation
Functional tremor rehabilitation targets the symptoms, the disability experience and the psychogenic causes of the tremor. It’s clear for some people functional or psychogenic tremor can be a source of marked disability and can impact on their daily life profoundly.
From the ability to perform everyday task like cooking to getting dressed may be dramatically affected by a persistent and variable tremor. So what does rehabilitation offer someone who is experiencing a functional tremor? This article explains what you can expect from Occupational Therapy Brisbane.
Functional tremor diagnosis
The diagnosis is likely a very tiring and prolonged journey. Commonly a process of exclusion and investigation by your neurologist.
The journey itself to diagnosis can be a trying time and some people may experience and exacerbation of their symptoms during this period.
Conversely, being supported, heard and receive a thorough examination may also lighten the symptom load.
It’s important to note that functional tremor is not a degenerative condition like Parkinson’s Disease but one of central nervous system dysfunction. Simply put, it’s not working as well as it should and in fact it has adapted to a new mode of working which may fluctuate in tremor scale and intensity.… .. Click here to read the rest
Three Keys To Maintaining A Healthy Ageing Brain
Having the occasional “forgetful” or “senior moment” is something most of us have dealt with. Lapses in memory can happen at any age, but contrary to popular belief, ageing is often not the sole cause of cognitive decline.
Significant memory loss in older individuals can also be due to brain injury, neurological illnesses, or organic disorders. Studies have shown, however, that you can prevent cognitive decline and be proactive in reducing your risk of dementia by doing the following:
Don’t stop learning
Challenge your brain through mental exercise. Experts believe that mental exercises activate processes which help maintain brain cells and stimulate brain cell communication.
You can stay mentally active by:
- Learning a new skill
- Pursuing a hobby
- Volunteering for a project
As long as the skill is one that you do not usually use, you can make major strides in improving your memory.
Keep moving
Flexing your body muscles may actually help you flex your “brain muscle” as well. Exercise not only encourages the development of fresh nerve cells, but it also increases the connections between brain cells (“synapses”).… .. Click here to read the rest
Identifying The Signs of Stroke: Are You FAST Enough?
The established method to identify the signs of stroke has been to apply the FAST acronym. The Stroke Foundation (Australia) and The American Heart Association have championed the acronym: FAST as the formula to help lay people identity the signs of stroke.
How To Identify The Signs of Stroke
FAST is short for Face, Arm, Speech and Time – time being a prompt not to waste it and to seek help and assessment immediately. The time to be seen can be the difference between lasting and disabling effects of a stroke.
According to new research by University of Kentucky FAST may not be enough. Not that FAST is insufficient, more so that it does not appear to capture comprehensively the signs of stroke.
However, a study published in a recent issue of Stroke and authored by Dr Susanth Aroor a resident physician at the University of Kentucky may offer a new advancement in how first respondents look for the signs of stroke.
You see the idea originated from investigating how many strokes were initially missed because the FAS(T) mnemonic didn’t apply to them. … .. Click here to read the rest
How Can You Improve Executive Function After A Neurological Event?
After a neurological event such as an ABI what are some strategies to improve executive function? Be it to assist with achieving tasks at home or in the workplace?
What Are Executive Functions?
Executive functions are a cluster of higher level cognitive skills which are believed to be mediated by the front lobes. According to Perna et al (2012) executive dysfunction is quite common following an acquired brain injury. People with executive dysfunction may commonly experience deficits with:
- Insight, awareness, self awareness
- initiation and social pragmatics,
- higher-order thinking,
- judgment, planning
- reasoning and problem solving (Lezak, 1995)
It’s likely executive dysfunction may have a direct impact on a person’s ability to complete instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) such as work, leisure, budgeting and driving for example. These tasks involve multiple sequences, are dynamic, non linear and may require various cognitive skills to be successfully completed.
Evidence To Improve Executive Function
Cicerone et al.(2000) reviewed 14 studies which were focused on executive function and problem solving. The recommendation arising form this review was,
training of formal problem-solving strategies and their application to everyday situations and functional activities
Within the acute and rehabilitation environments commonly a therapy focus is on improving other cognitive functions which impair activities of daily living (ADL).… .. Click here to read the rest
Rehabilitation Goals
Here’s 2 Areas Missing Out Of Most Peoples’ Rehabilitation Goal Planning Efforts.
Are you on track with your goals? Be it for life or rehabilitation goals? Are you achieving the small steps to get where you want to be?
So you’re down on your first month of the year! I don’t know about you but it has flown for me.
But whatever the time is right now for you, are you squeezing the most out of your rehabilitation goals?
I caught myself chuckling at the old Castrol Oils Ain’t Oils ad recently. Don’t ask me why, but it just came to me, ok :).
It prompted my attention about Goals. And the power of the right goals especially for your rehabilitation efforts. Stay with me.
The Goals of rehabilitation will vary form person to person.
The Goals our clients say to us are often specific, very practical and this makes tangible sense. Such as… To be able to hold a cup and drink from it,. Be able to shake a hand., Be able to remember where I am and not get lost in super market.”… .. Click here to read the rest
Parkinson’s Disease Treatment: How You Can Delay The Decline
No matter what stage of life your at, the day of Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis often leaves people, maybe much like you, in a state of bewilderment. Getting a bearing on Parkinson’s Disease treatment can be confusing.
This is followed by emotions of fear and frustration then finally anger moving into a strong resolve and acceptance. Makes it sound straight forward, doesn’t it?
I don’t know where you’re at on your Parkinson’s Disease journey. It’s never a straight line but whilst you’re here, I thought to share with you about the exciting changes in Parkinson’s Disease treatment what they can offer you.
Maybe like you, for many years, I’ve been frustrated by the lack of Parkinson’s Disease treatment evidence which can help direct people to live better, move better and have a sense of control.
There has been very little PD treatment proof that there are solutions to effect real and meaningful change in your life. So that you can
- Get out of bed or chair
- Walk without fear
- Achieve active life goals
- Dance with your loved one
- Put a shirt on
- Go out for dinner to a crowded restaurant or bar
You no doubt appreciate my point, your PD symptoms can be a massive barrier to living a life you want.… .. Click here to read the rest
