Guillain-barre Syndrome and COVID: Is there a connection?
Guillain-barre Syndrome and COVID: Is There a Connection? It’s been almost three years since the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was discovered in Wuhan, China. While the virus is no longer crippling the world as it used to, medical experts are discovering new things...
Long COVID and Leg Weakness: what you need to know
COVID and Leg Weakness: What You Need To Know Some people continue to struggle with the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) long after testing positive for it. From muscle weakness to brain fog, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more, COVID-related...
Post Stroke Spasticity: What is the best treatment
Post stroke spasticity is a movement disorder that occurs in approximately 25-43% of people who have had a stroke. This (frustrating) movement problem can be painful, cause soft tissue stiffness, joint contracture, and abnormal limb posture. Along...
Core Exercise After a Stroke
Core weakness can significantly impact walking after a stroke. And that being said, core strengthening is one of the most neglected "muscle groups" in a stroke recovery program. Needless to say, a core strengthening or core stabilization exercise...
Drop Foot Exercises
Drop foot can make walking extremely difficult. It can also place someone at a very high risk for falling. In the video below, you will learn the BEST drop foot exercise progression. But first, here are some basic facts to help you understand your...
Need Motivation? Think Outside the Box
I am about to take you on a journey. The journey of how I went from a safe, conventional, risk free life to a life that was filled with bold, bright colors. And how this one little thing has been the key to my sanity for the past four years.So, what is...
How do you fix a heavy leg
Does your leg feel "heavy"? Is it hard for you to lift it off the ground when you are walking? Or worse, does it drag (on the ground) because you are unable to lift it? You are not alone. It is a common "problem" that happens with many neurologic...
Overcoming Mental Barriers in Rehab
Mental barriers might just be the #1 thing, that stops someone from reaching their full potential. Recovering from a neurologic injury elevates this to a whole other level. Neurologic rehabilitation is (often times) slow. And recovery may take...
Improve Walking with this
Do you remember the steps you went through when you FIRST learned to walk? Yeah, me either 🙂 This is what makes it SOOOO frustrating when you need to correct a "walking problem". Walking is a "skill" that realies heavily on "automaticity" (kind of like a computer...
It is spasticity, NOT foot drop
Is it really foot drop (also called drop foot)? If you have an upper motor neuron lesion (damage to your brain or spinal cord), drop foot may NOT be the best term to describe your symptoms. Yes, your foot points down and you can’t dorsiflex (lift the...
Fix a stiff leg after a stroke
What is a "stiff leg"?A stroke can cause many different leg problems that can make walking difficult. One problem is (what some people refer to as) a "stiff leg". So, what exactly is a stiff leg? Well, do you ever feel like at the exact moment you want...
What is Physical Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease?
What is Physical Therapy For Parkinson’s Disease? If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, physical therapy should be the FIRST treatment. Now, I know what you are thinking. "That is a pretty bold statement". Am I really suggesting that physical...
What is Ataxia?
Ataxia is a sign of dysfunction in the neurologic system. Ataxia can occur following a stroke, brain injury, or a hereditary disorder (Friedrichs ataxia) and typically involves some sort of damage to the cerebellum. This can result in clumsy, shaky,...
Can you recover from Guillain Barre Syndrome?
What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome? Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system (nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord). Normally a person's immune system recognizes and destroys foreign "invaders" that...
Are you ignoring a balance problem?
Are you ignoring a balance problem? Falls in older adults are NOT just a "possibility". Whether you are 65 or 85, more likely than not, you WILL fall. Let that sink in. More importantly, a fall at any age can have catastrophic consequences. 1 out of 4 falls...
Dual-task exercise training after a stroke
A stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability. Neuroplasticity (the brains ability to reorganize) is the foundation of regaining movement, and ultimately independence. This requires repetitive practice, of the correct movements, performed in...
Should you get a second opinion for your neurologic diagnosis?
Neurologic conditions are difficult to diagnose. For this reason, misdiagnoses remain a problem. The number of cases is NOT important. ONE case (of a misdiagnosis) has damaging consequences. It impacts the emotional, financial, and physical health of...
Did your doctor misdiagnose you neurologic condition?
In 2011 it was estimated that nearly 100 million Americans suffered from > 1000 neurologic disorders. If YOU have experienced numbness, parasthesias (abnormal sensations), fatigue, weakness, or pain you may be included in this staggering number. ...
How do you recover from Guillain Barre Syndrome?
Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune attack on the nervous system that affects 3,000 to 6,000 people per year. This devastating attack causes muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Symptoms resolve within weeks to months, however, some will...
8 Truths about Stroke Rehabilitation
The CDC reports someone in the US suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and is the leading cause of long term disability. A stroke can occur anywhere in the brain causing a variety of problems with vision, cognition (thinking), speaking, mobility, and memory. Hence,...
Leg Exercises for Stroke Recovery
Leg movement is critical when re-learning how to stand, transfer and walk. Therefore, most stroke survivors are eager to learn the leg exercises that will help the ULTIMATE goal, independence. If YOU are in this group, you may be thinking that you can...
What are the best exercises for Parkinsons Disease?
Is moving getting more difficult, swallowing food seem exhausting? Or do you feel like maintaining eye contact with someone when having a conversation wears you out? You may be suffering from stooped posture due to parkinson disease. Why is this happening? Because...
What is the best walker for my balance?
Do you have difficulty walking? Than it is time to discuss the dreaded "F" word.......Falls. I know, a word no one wants to talk about. Falls are one of the leading causes of hospitalization for people over the age of 65. This number is much higher for anyone who...
Coping with a plateau after a stroke
Recovery after a stroke can come with a slew of emotions including shock, fear, depression, and hope. Staying positive and maintaining hope is absolutely essential to the recovery process. One thing that can cause frustration and maybe even lead to a...
What is the treatment for a peripheral nerve injury?
A peripheral nerve injury can occur to many nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Similar to electrical wires peripheral nerves supply the necessary power to a muscle. When these nerves are damaged, the muscles lose their "power source". As a result, muscles...
Cerebellar Stroke: Symptoms and Treatment
A stroke can occur in any part of the brain or spinal cord. A cerebellar stroke occurs when the blood flow to the cerebellum is disrupted. A cerebellar stroke is an uncommon place for a stroke to occur, however, the results can be devastating. The...
How do you return home after a stroke?
Returning home after a stroke is a major accomplishment. This step in the recovery process can also be extremely overwhelming. It is extremely important to start planning as soon as possible to minimize stress and unnecessary challenges. Discharge Planning While in...
Guillain Barre Syndrome: Can exercise delay recovery?
Recovering from Gullain-barre syndrome can be frustrating. It is normal to want to get your life back, FAST! And the normal reaction is the more "exercise" you do the better, right? Unfortunately, this mentality can HURT your recovery. Regaining strength in the...
Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy an Effective Treatment for Stroke?
A stroke occurs when there is a blood clot or a hemorrhage in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. Whether the stroke is caused by a hemorrhage (artery ruptures) or a clot (artery is occluded), the result is a cascade of events that ultimately lead to nerve...
How does spatial and body awareness make walking difficult after a stroke?
A stroke can cause problems with vision, sensation, muscle strength, muscle tone and body awareness (knowing where the body is in space). It also causes problems with thinking, reasoning, problem solving, attention, and memory. Put all of this together, and many...