Respect for Physical Therapists

Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist and patient doing gait training

My physical therapist tells me that one of the most insulting things he faces is the lack of respect that he gets regarding the level of education necessary to get his postgraduate degree. Some people have gone so far as to ask: “So… did you take couple classes at the junior college to become a physical therapist?” (more…)

After A Stroke: Play Chess For Brain Therapy

Chess Brain

 

It is quite common to struggle with “Brain Fog” or “Stroke Brain” after a stroke.

I feel it every single day. I read daily and play crossword puzzles, but I still have that numb, deer-in-headlights sensation. It feels like I just took a serious pummeling with a heavy feather pillow – and a major league baseball player was holding the pillow. I am not in any pain, but my brain feels like it’s wrapped in heavy cotton. So how do you exercise your brain after a stroke? You give it a challenge. My personal favorite is chess.

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How To Write When You Can’t Write

Dragon Anywhere

Dragon Anywhere Voice Recognition App for Mobile Devices

Since my first stroke over two years ago, I have been unable to make my dominant hand do anything useful, let alone write. I do exercises every single day but still have not regained functionality. I also practice writing with my left hand every day, but it has become obvious to me that it will take a while before I can write past the elementary school level.

Not one to admit defeat, I turn to technology to solve my writing problem. (more…)

Be a 10% ‘er

Casino Roulette

Bet on recovery.

I’ll begin with a question: If I told you that if you do your therapy exercises for a couple of hours every single day, every week, for weeks and months, for several years – and as a result, you’d only have a 10% chance of recovery, would you do them? Suppose I told you that not doing your therapy exercises at all would result in a 0% chance of recovery? (more…)