With 60,000 Australians expected to suffer from a stroke this year alone, a new study aims to find the best approach to rehabilitation to help sufferers recover more quickly and reduce their stay in hospital.

After a stroke, people going through rehabilitation need as much physical therapy as possible to achieve the best results. Now UniSA researchers have been awarded a grant by the National Health and Medical Research Council to investigate a variety of approaches so that patients recover independence and get home as quickly as possible.

Read the full stroke recovery article at HealthNews

Post by David Dansereau for Know-Stroke.org

This is one exercise I sometimes  still visualize in my sleep and continue to work on to improve my balance post  stroke.  I’ve since been able to give it a boost by trying it with heavier weights, with my front leg on a Total Gym glideboard,  and at times even successfully with my eyes closed.

Use caution and modify to your level of fitness / rehabilitation when needed*

Intensity Level:  Moderate Difficulty with disc as shown

Lunge with Balance Disc
1) Stand with feet hip width apart. Take leg and step back approximately 2 feet standing on the ball of the foot. Place the front foot on a balance disc (or use the floor without disc for beginners).
2) Start position: Feet should be positioned at a staggered stance with head and back erect and straight in a neutral position.  Hold medicine ball in front of your chest for added challenge.
3) Lower body by bending at hip and knee until thigh is parallel to floor. Body should follow a straight line down towards the floor.
4) Return to start position while raising the medicine ball overhead and repeat. Alternate or switch to other leg after prescribed reps.

5)Stroke Rehab Tip:  Use a mirror and focus on a central point straight in front of you and always train both sides

This exercise is from my PT coaching site-My-Physical-Therapy-Coach.com

*You should follow a rep and set sequence that makes sense for your level of rehab or conditioning.  If you are working with a physical therapist or qualified trainer consult with them first about adding this full body balance exercise to your  stroke recovery training.

Heart disease and stroke are the number one and three causes of death in the United States.  Inflammation has been shown to be a primary factor in the development of atherosclerosis, the major cause of cardiovascular disease.  But did you ever think you could be “digging your grave with your teeth”.

If you keep up with the articles and posts from my nutrition site, my-nutrition-coach.com you might naturally think I’m referring to the heart disease and stroke risks associated with all the poor food choices we make.

While studies show dietary choices do contribute to the disease process and can lead to an early grave, the focus of this post is on the link between heart disease and gum disease.

A private comment on my stroke blog recently asking me about what meds one would need to take after PFO closure initiated this post.  I generally leave specific medical advice to the docs, and most of the controversy and need for better patient guidelines post PFO closure surround the topic of continued blood thinning. One very important medication, and the one most often minimized after PFO closure, is the need to take some form of prophylaxis by antibiotics before dental procedures.  Why?

Some surgical and dental procedures can cause a brief bacteremia (bacteria in the bloodstream).  No big deal, right?  Well, if you have abnormal heart valves, prosthetic cardiac valves, congenital heart disease or have had cardiac procedures like stenting or occluders (PFO closure devices) placed then these bacteria can become lodged on these abnormal surfaces.  The life threatening medical condition that results is called bacterial endocarditis and it is a heart risk that occurs when this normal bacteria from your mouth (source can also come from the respiratory tract, intestines or urinary tract) enters the bloodstream and causes inflammation in heart tissue.

Bottom line:

The people with the highest risk for bacterial endocarditis include those who have:

• Prosthetic cardiac valve
• Previous endocarditis
• Congenital heart disease
• Cardiac transplantation with cardiac valve abnormalities

For all others:

The obvious-Avoid periodontitis by brushing and flossing regularly and get those regular checkups and cleaning from your dentist-to help your cardiovascular system and keep you from “digging a grave with your teeth”.

[Sidebar and Quick Tip for those new members of the “heart plug club”]

Keep an extra dose of antibiotics on hand in case of dental emergencies and remember to take your dose as prescribed before you arrive at your dentist for your regular check-ups.

Article by David Dansereau for know-stroke.org

Sources:

Ide M et al,J of periodontology,2004

Yong-Hee P et al, J of Periodontal Research,2007

Making progress for stroke /migraine / PFO awareness but many gray areas remain

I’m working on an article for my nutrition site my-nutrition-coach.com . The topic for this article is Omega-3 oils and  I am researching the latest nutritional science and what (if any) advice medical professionals are giving to suggest alternate methods to keep your blood thin.   I am especially interested in the nutritional advice given for those at risk of a repeat stroke or who might be  on a prescription med, for example post-op after PFO closure).

How you can help me with your 2 cents:

If you are on a prescription medicine protocol of any kind after your event, what dietary advice was offered to you (in addition to traditional blood thinning meds)?

Please take this 2 second nutrition/medication poll:

I’d appreciate your feedback.  I’ve had many readers ask me what are my thoughts on Omega-3′s, so I’ve provided this link to a recent article on the Omega3  I use.

As you may know it is buyer beware with all supplements so here’s what you should know to review your own brand.

I’ll keep you posted when the results from this poll roll in.  Thanks for helping me tackle these PFO/Stroke/Migraine “Gray Areas” one  topic at a time.

David P. Dansereau

Know-Stroke.org

Why not? It’s free and full of diet reviews,tips to boost your nutrition IQ, and a quack list of products to avoid! In addition it provides quick therapeutic exercises suggestions related to your condition. You’ll also be granted a free access pass to my webinars on timely stroke rehabilitation and technology topics of interest. As a bonus, get free access to back issues with links to hundreds of my training and rehab articles. Don’t miss out-it will not be free forever… Get it now!

Treadmill-training has been making headlines recently in stroke therapy treatment.  From the fitness standpoint, we have known for some time that studies have shown that people get more out of a treadmill than other fitness equipment because it is natural to walk or run, and users are more apt to stick with it for longer each session.  This article will review a recent study using treadmills in stroke rehabilitation, as well as at some of the latest treadmill products on the market today.

The Research

According to recent research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, people who use treadmill-training can significantly improve their health and mobility.  The results of this study, validated through brain imaging, that brain changes reflected actual neural “rewiring” -even years after having a stroke.

The study’s results, published in Stroke, the journal of the American Heart Association, suggest that patients’ brains may retain the capacity to rewire through a treadmill exercise program months or years after conventional physical therapy has ended.¹

REFERENCES

1. Luft AR, Macko RF, Forrester LW, et al. Treadmill exercise activates subcortical neural networks and improves walking after stroke. A randomized controlled trial. Stroke. 2008:Aug