Functional recovery is possible, even years after a stroke. Learn how to harness neuroplasticity through repetitive exercise, and the all-around health benefits of staying active after stroke or brain injury.

The Ultimate Guide to Stroke Exercises

Having a stroke is a mentally and physically taxing experience. According to the
World Health Organization (WHO), 15 million people suffer from stroke worldwide
each year. Of these, 5 million people die, and many survivors are left
permanently disabled.

Stroke survivors may lose physical abilities and cognitive skills or undergo
behavioral changes because strokes cause temporary or permanent damage to the
brain areas that control those functions.

But here is the good news: the brain is able to recover after stroke, whether
initially or months to years later. While short-term recovery after stroke
(called spontaneous recovery) is limited to the first six months, long-term
functional recovery can occur at any point thereafter
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5020059/#B100]. Stroke survivors
who continue to engage their affected side in daily activity and exercise can
capitalize on functional recovery potential throughout their stroke journey.

The Importance of Stroke Exercise for Rehabilitation and Recovery
The brain is capable of rewiring and repairing itself even if its cells are
damaged. The undamaged parts step in to perform the tasks that the damaged parts
were performing. This phenomenon (called neuroplasticity
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/tips-for-unlocking-neuroplasticity-after-stroke-part-1]
) allows stroke survivors to regain lost movement and function. The key to
neuroplasticity is the consistent performance of repetitive tasks so that the
brain can relearn how to perform these tasks through different neural pathways.

In simpler words, stroke exercise is one of the most effective means by which
stroke patients can heal themselves, get stronger, improve the quality of their
lives, and maximize their recovery from stroke. Because lifestyle factors
[https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/stroke-risk-factors-and-prevention#:~:text=Lifestyle%20factors%20that%20increase%20your,diet%20and%20lack%20of%20exercise.] 
like being overweight and having high blood pressure are a common cause of
stroke, daily exercise becomes even more important in reducing the risk for
recurrent stroke and other complications. 

No matter the severity of the stroke, survivors can improve their quality of
life through healthy lifestyle changes and engagement in restorative activities.
Whether implementing big changes or small ones, the key to meaningful functional
recovery is engaging in your post-stroke routine changes consistently. 

The Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Stroke Recovery Exercises
Let’s look at some of the important physical and mental health benefits of
engaging in stroke rehabilitation exercises. Post-stroke exercise is shown to
produce many positive outcomes, which may include:

Physical benefits
 1. Speeds up all-round stroke recovery
 2. Recovers strength
 3. Improves endurance
 4. Increases walking speed
 5. Improves balance
 6. Boosts the ability to perform daily routine activities
 7. Prevents the recurrence of strokes.

Mental benefits
 1. Reduces depression and enhances mood
 2. Boosts brain health
 3. Relieves stress
 4. Helps in increasing a sense of self-worth and self-reliance that can
    decrease after a stroke
 5. Gives patients a sense of purpose and a goal to work towards.

Exercises to help Patients in Stroke Recovery at Home
The positive effects of post-stroke exercise are undeniable. However, when
setting up an exercise routine as a stroke survivor, it is important to
incorporate both cardiovascular fitness and muscle strengthening to ensure the
most effective outcomes.

Stroke exercises are always safer to do with a loved one or caregiver around.
However, if that is not possible, patients can modify an exercise program to
ensure safe performance. For instance, completing exercises from sitting as
opposed to standing to avoid loss of balance. It is also wise to consult a
doctor or a therapist should any uncertainties about any of the stroke exercises
arise or if you have any other underlying health condition.

Cardiovascular Fitness
Aerobic exercise is fundamental to building a healthy heart, improving
endurance, and maintaining healthy lungs. Cardiovascular exercise can also
improve the sensory perception and motor skills of stroke survivors. Walking
outside or on a treadmill, stationary cycling, recumbent cross training and many
other forms of exercise that get your heart pumping are extremely beneficial for
stroke recovery.

Stroke survivors must get at least 20-60 minutes of light to moderate aerobic
exercise (50 to 80% of your maximum heart rate) 3 to 7 days a week to improve
the chances of stroke recovery. Patients can choose to do aerobic exercise at
one go or in smaller sessions during the day.

Resistance Exercises for Strengthening Muscles
Resistance training or muscle strength training plays a crucial role in
post-stroke recovery, as it helps to recover physical strength, stamina,
stability, and improve range of motion.

Here are some commonly prescribed exercises for stroke recovery at home:

1. Wrist Curls
Equipment: A stable chair with armrests (preferably padded), light weights, or
any household object which can provide some resistance and is easy to grip.

How To Do It: Sit up straight on the chair. Place your arms on the rests with
your palms facing upward. Let your wrists dangle over the edge of the armrests.
Grasp the weights firmly and comfortably, and with slow controlled movements,
bend your wrist up towards your forearm and back down again (only your wrists
should be moving).

Benefits: Wrist curls are isolated movements that build forearm strength,
improve range of motion, and enhance gripping ability.

2. Wrist and Hand Stretch
Equipment: Stable chair with armrests.

How To Do It: With your arms facing downward and your wrists dangling over the
edge of the armrest, drop your hand down and use your other hand to gently lift
your wrist up and down and side to side.

Benefits: This simple movement stretches the ligaments in the wrist and forearms
to maintain range of motion.

Modification: If you add a weight while completing this exercise, you are
completing a reverse wrist curl, strengthening the muscles on the opposite side
of your forearm.

3. Shoulder Openers
Equipment: Light weights or any light object that can be gripped easily and will
provide some resistance.

How To Do It: Grasping your weights (make fists with your fingers facing
inwards), hold your arms at your sides, and bend your elbows 90 degrees. With
slow controlled movements, move your fists outwards while keeping your arms in
position at your sides (like you are opening a door). Bring your arms back to
your starting stance. (Can be performed both sitting or standing).

Benefits: This exercise improves range of motion and strength in the shoulders.

4. Table Towel Slide
Equipment: Folded Towel and table.

How To Do It: Place the towel in front of you. With your weaker hand on the
towel and your stronger hand on top of it, slide the towel away and towards you
(using your stronger hand to guide and push). Apart from going back and forth,
you could also go clock and counter-clockwise, forming circles on the table.

Benefits: Stretches and strengthens shoulder and arm muscles and promotes
neuroplasticity through improved arm coordination.

5. Trunk Bends
Equipment: A stable chair.

How To Do It: Sit on the edge of your chair with your feet planted slightly
apart but firmly on the ground. Bend forward as far as you can, and try to reach
your ankles or the floor between your legs. Then use your core muscles for
sitting back up as straight as you can.

Benefits: Improves core strength and helps with weight shifting.

6. Knee Rotations
Equipment: Firm, flat surfaces such as a bed or a mat.

How To Do It: Lie on your back and rest your hands by your sides. Bend your
knees with your feet flat on the floor. Keeping your knees together, drop them,
slowly, to the left then, bring them back to the center. Then drop them to the
right and back to the center.

Benefits: Improves core, back strength, coordination, and balance.

7. Hip Abduction
Equipment: Stable chair.

How To Do It: Sit up straight on the edge of your chair. Gently tighten your abs
and straighten one knee. With your toes pointed to the ceiling, slowly move your
foot out to the side. Return to the starting stance, then repeat on the other
side. You can decrease the intensity by lying down and performing this exercise
or make it more difficult by attempting this from standing, if you are capable.

Benefits: Strengthens hips, core, leg, back, and improves coordination and
stability.

8. Standing Knee Raises
Equipment: A firm surface to hold on to.

How To Do it: Stand with your back straight and hold on to a firm surface.
Shifting your weight to one leg, bring the other leg up in front of you while
bending your knee to a 90-degree angle. Hold for a few seconds and resume the
starting position. Then switch legs.

Benefits: Strengthens upper and lower abs, hips, and back. It also helps with
posture, balance, and coordination.

9. Sit to Stands
Equipment: Stable chair.

How To Do it: Sit up tall in your chair with your knees bent (90 degrees). Place
your feet firmly on the floor shoulder-width apart. Slowly rise to a standing
position while ensuring that your knees never cross the tips of your toes. Sit
back down slowly and in a controlled manner. To make it less intense, use your
arms for support, and to make it more difficult, cross your arms on your chest.

Benefits: Strengthens core and upper thigh muscles, improves weight shifting and
balance.

10. Hip Thrusts



Equipment: A flat, firm surface like a bed or a mat.

How To Do it: Lie on your back with your feet flat on the ground and knees bent.
Place your arms by your sides, palms down. Gently contract your abs and squeeze
your glutes (backside muscles) to lift your hips and make a bridge. Hold on this
position for a few seconds and lower to the starting stance. You can make it
easier by straightening your legs and placing a rolled-up towel under your
knees, then squeezing and lifting your hips. You could also make it more intense
by lifting one foot at a time while holding the bridge.

Benefits: It boosts the strength of the core, glutes, lower back muscles, and
muscles that support the spine.

Frequency and Intensity of Stroke Exercises
Stroke exercise is most beneficial if done consistently and repetitively. It is
always best to consult your medical team about the type and frequency of
exercises that are optimal for your unique situation. Do not risk your safety by
attempting things that you are unsure about.

As a guideline, resistance exercises should be done 3-5 times a week. 2-3 sets
of 12-15 repetitions (of each exercise) should be completed to achieve
noticeable results. A survivor who is new to exercise post-stroke exercises may
have to work up to the ideal frequency of exercise over time. 

Stroke exercise should never cause pain. Pain may indicate that you are causing
new or lasting damage to your muscles and joints. If your exercises produce a
burning, shooting, or otherwise uncomfortable sensation, stop immediately and
modify the activity (ex. reduce weight, perform the exercise within a smaller
range of motion). If it is not possible to perform the activity without pain,
remove it from your program and ask your doctor. 

Conclusions
A stroke results in drastic and sudden changes in life that can leave survivors
struggling physically, socially, and emotionally. However, proper stroke
exercise is the path to reclaiming the body, mind, and quality of life. With
determination and hard work, there is light at the end of the tunnel and a more
promising future ahead.



For more information, support, or to know more about the latest developments in
stroke recovery, give us a call at (888) 623-8984 or email at info@neofect.com.

Post-Stroke

Stroke research suggests the following treatments are promising for individuals who are at least six months post-stroke:

1. Mental Practice with Motor Imagery
2. Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)
3. Virtual Reality (VR)
4. Preventing Learned Non-Use

Yes! There is Hope for Chronic Stroke!

What is a chronic stroke?
The term chronic stroke typically refers to a time frame of at least six months
after the initial stroke incident occurred. As a person enters this stage and
moves onward to years of stroke survival, he may start to encounter all new
frustrations related to recovery, especially regarding motor recovery and use of
the affected arm.

In the medical world, “most significant” recovery of movement is generally
considered to happen within the first six months, with spontaneous recovery
slowing after that time. There is a push for high-intensity and high-frequency
of therapy while the stroke is still fairly fresh, in order to capitalize on the
“critical window” of the highest responsiveness to treatment.

That doesn’t mean we should stop addressing motor recovery after six months.
What if we still focus on intensive therapy early on in stroke rehab, but also
find ways to promote motor recovery six or more months later? What if we don’t
stop searching for new strategies to improve, or at the very least, not lose
function of the weaker arm?



Can I still improve function if I am in the chronic stage of stroke?
Our understanding of the brain and its capabilities is constantly evolving. We
used to think that adult brains couldn’t change at all after a certain age!
Emerging research evidence suggests there are ways to challenge and improve the
chronic stroke brain months and even years down the road. One large-scale study
involving outcomes from 219 stroke survivors suggested the critical window for
motor recovery may be as long as 18 months! Another recent case study
highlighted motor recovery in a stroke survivor who was 23 years post-stroke!

What types of rehabilitation are effective for people with chronic stroke?
Stroke research suggests the following treatments are promising for individuals
who are at least six months post-stroke:

 1. Mental Practice with Motor Imagery
 2. Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)
 3. Virtual Reality (VR)
 4. Preventing Learned Non-Use

Mental Practice with Motor Imagery
This is a type of treatment where a specific movement is rehearsed mentally.
Done best with a pre-recorded audio set, the person listens carefully as a task
is described in detail. The details usually include every aspect of that task,
including how the five senses may be experienced while performing it, as well as
the exact movements that would be needed to complete the task. For example, if
the task were “drinking a cup of water,” the recording would describe how to
reach out with the arm, extend the fingers, feel the weight of the cup,
experience the temperature and the liquid as it touches the mouth, and the
exactness of the motion to set it back down gently.

Studies have shown that with this type of repetitive visualization and practice,
actual movement and functional use of the arm can improve, such that an arm that
was once fairly “useless” can now actually pick up a water cup and bring it to
the mouth. The best part is, research also shows that this can be an effective
treatment 12 months and beyond since when the stroke actually happened!



Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)
This is a type of treatment that involves blocking the stronger arm (usually
with a cast or mitt) to promote engagement of the hemiplegic
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/hemiplegia-vs-hemiparesis], or weaker arm. The
more a person uses the weaker arm, the less they are at risk of “learned
non-use.” By “forcing” the weaker arm to participate more, and even to be the
primary or only source of function, it has a lot more chance to stay the same or
get better, even years after the stroke happened. In fact, patients in
Constraint Induced studies reported and showed increased use of their arms
during normal activities, even if their strokes happened years before!

Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual reality is another name for video games! This type of treatment may be
immersive (using a headset) or non-immersive, with a participant engaging in a
game on a screen. VR technology focusing on strengthening and improving limb
function is becoming more prevalent in clinics and in homes. These programs are
able to quantify arm or leg movement to control gameplay and provide immediate
performance feedback.

Research supports the use of VR therapy to enhance motor recovery for adults
with acute and chronic stroke. Virtual reality technology can also improve
motivation in addition to movement outcomes, helping users stick with their
self-training programs and continue using their affected side. Research shows
that chronic stroke patients often find self-training programs that use video
games to be user friendly and enjoyable.



Avoiding “learned non-use.”
We now know more about this phenomenon that affects many stroke survivors -
especially those who are years out from a stroke. The stronger arm starts to
take over to just get things accomplished, probably because there is a lot of
positive feedback for using the stronger arm (It’s faster! It’s easier! I can
just get it done!) and a lot of negative feedback for using the stroke-affected
arm (It’s so frustrating! It takes me forever using it!). Research is showing
that if people can still find motivation and dedication to actually trying to
use the weaker arm, it is possible to still regain function - even years later.

The bottom line: don't give up!
There IS hope. We can’t predict the exact amount of movement or strength that
could come back, or what exactly you will be able to do with your affected arm
or hand. But we are producing more research that is pointing us in the direction
of believing recovery is still possible after that six month critical window.
Don’t give up!

References:

Ballester, BR, et al. (2019). A critical time window for recovery extends beyond
one-year post-stroke. Journal of Neurophysiology, 122: 350-357. doi:
10.1152/jn.00762.2018
Soros, P, et al. (2017). Motor recovery beginning 23 years after ischemic
stroke. Journal of Neurophysiology, 118(2): 778-781. doi: 10.1152/jn.00868.2016
Page, S, Levine, P, and Leonard, A. (2007). Mental practice in chronic stroke:
results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Stroke, 38(4): 1293-1297.
doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000260205.67348.2b
Kunkel, A, et al. (1999). Constraint-induced movement therapy for motor recovery
in chronic stroke patients. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
80, 624-628. doi:10.1016/s0003-9993(99)90163-6
5. Taub, E, et al. (1993). Technique to improve chronic motor deficit after
stroke. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 74, 347-354.
Subramanian, SK, et al. (2013). Arm motor recovery using a virtual reality
intervention in chronic stroke: Randomized control trial. Neurorehabilitation
and Neural Repair, 27(1), 13-23. doi: 10.1177/1545968312449695.

Chronic Stroke

Yes! There is Hope for Chronic Stroke

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is used to treat people with Hemiplegia by constraining or restricting movement of the non-affected hand to force a person to use their affected hand. 

using-neofect-smartglove-to-maximize-constraint-induced-movement-therapy

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is used to treat people with 
hemiplegia [https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/hemiplegia-vs-hemiparesis] by
constraining or restricting movement of the non-affected hand to force a person
to use their affected hand. The idea capitalizes on neuroplasticity to encourage
intensive repetitions of movements, which create stronger neural pathways to
move the affected hand.

CIMT has been extensively studied for people with hemiplegia as a result of
stroke or cerebral palsy. It has been shown to be an effective therapeutic
approach to increase spontaneous use, quality of movement, and improve the
ability to engage in daily activities.

The key components of CIMT are constraining the non-affected arm and intensive
shaping. There are a variety of constraints used and none of them have been
shown to be more effective than another. People have used casts, splints, and
mitts. Intensive shaping refers to intensive repetitions of movements and tasks
that are designed to become progressively harder.

Neuroplasticity

The brain changes throughout our lifetime. We do create habits and strong neural
connections as we get older, but even if the brain is damaged and the signal
from the brain to a muscle is impaired, the brain is able to rewire itself to
create new pathways. We develop these pathways with intensive repetitions. This
is called neuroplasticity
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/using-brain-plasticity-to-supercharge-your-brain]
.

The brain is neurologically wired to complete an activity in the easiest way
possible. After a stroke, it’s easier for the brain to compensate with other
body parts then to send a signal to your affected hand (i.e. you’re more likely
to use your mouth to open a snack package then attempt to grasp with your
affected hand). It’s not that people are “cheaters”, their brain is using
adaptations to be the most efficient. But we also know that if you don’t use it,
you lose it. So how can we get those intensive repetitions in if the brain is
telling us there’s an easier way? That’s where CIMT comes in.

The mechanism by which constraint-induced therapy is not fully understood, but
hypothetically if you can make your brain believe that your non-affected hand is
less useful than your affected hand AND your brain is making every effort to
complete a task, the brain will start working on sending better signals to the
arm that is not constrained.

In CIMT we focus on sending signals to the muscles to move our arm and hand in
specific ways because there are certain movements that improve function.

Movements and Function
Every person is unique when it comes to what movements and joints are used to
complete a task, but there are several movements that assist us in being the
most effective and efficient: supination, wrist extension, wrist radial/ulnar
deviation, and finger flexion/extension. We need to practice these motions over
and over until our brain is able to send a signal to the muscle easier. When
doing CIMT, occupational therapists recommend a wide variety of activities to
elicit these movements.

Supination

Turning the palm up towards the ceiling, even a little, helps us hold large
objects, feed ourselves, stabilize a bottle to open, hold our phone to access it
with our other hand, hold paper to cut with scissors, and manage buttons.

Activities to practice supination:

 * Throwing a beanbag or ball underhand
 * Scooping sand or water with a small cup
 * Turning a rain stick or glitter wand over
 * Playing musical instruments, such as cymbals
 * Card games/flipping cards over

Wrist Extension

Bending the wrist up and down helps our fingers open and close to provide a more
effective grasp then simply moving our finger joints. Try it out: bend your
wrist downward completely and hold it there, now try to pick up a coin from the
tabletop without sliding it to the edge. Then try to simulate placing the penny
in a vertical slot the way a vending machine slot would be positioned. You might
be able to pick up the coin, but I guarantee you no matter how hard you
compensate with the rest of your body, if your wrist is completely flexed, you
won’t be able to get the coin where it needs to be.

Wrist extension helps us be more successful with activities such as putting
socks and shoes on, pulling up our pants, holding a glass, zipping a zipper, and
tying shoes.

Activities to practice wrist extension:

 * Rolling dough to make large pretzels
 * Washing windows or mirrors
 * Working on a vertical surface (fridge, mirror, wall, whiteboard, bulletin
   board, easel, etc.); place or remove stickers, magnets, velcro, push pins,
   etc

Wrist Radial/Ulnar Deviation

Bending the wrist side to side is radial and ulnar deviation (think about your
wrist moving like a windshield wiper). Radial deviation is moving the wrist to
the thumb side. I remember it by “thumbs up when something is rad!” (radial
deviation), and ulnar deviation is moving the wrist towards the pinky side. I
don’t have a trick for this one, I just know it’s the other one. :)

Having the ability to move the wrist into radial and ulnar deviation is helpful
for eating with a fork or spoon, buttoning pants, brushing hair, pouring from a
pitcher, and zipping a zipper.

Activities to practice radial and ulnar deviation:

 * Playing drums with a drumstick
 * Putting money in a vending machine
 * Turning a nut on a bolt
 * Turning a door knob

Finger Flexion and Extension

Opening and closing the fingers is needed to pick up or stabilize objects.
Flexing the fingers creates a gross grasp that is good for holding a cup,
pushing a grocery cart, holding a fork for cutting with a fork and knife, and
opening a jar.

Activity ideas to work on finger flexion and extension:

 * Carrying a bucket
 * Pushing a grocery cart
 * Squeezing a stress ball
 * Pulling a rope

NEOFECT Smart Glove

When it comes to neuroplasticity it’s all about repetitions. In a typical
therapy session, one can expect to complete 20-30 repetitions of movement by
completing activities that incorporate the movements above. With the NEOFECT 
Smart Glove [https://www.neofect.com/us/smart-glove], you can get up to 200-300
repetitions in a 30 minute session.

The other key feature of the Smart Glove is the algorithm and the ability to set
the parameters of the game to your movements. The Smart Glove and the software
allow you to complete a game within your capabilities and then pushes you a
little further by progressively making the demands of the game more difficult,
which is the concept of intensive shaping.

The NEOFECT Smart Glove is only one piece of the rehab journey in CIMT.
Isolating movements create stronger neural pathways to specific muscles so that
when you go to complete a functional task, you’re more likely to utilize those
muscles, but there are many ways to accomplish a task. You use a combination of
muscles to coordinate your movement. When it comes to intensive repetition for
neuroplasticity, you also need to do intensive repetitions of a functional task
to work on coordinating multiple muscles to work together. You can do this by
incorporating the self-care activities you already do everyday as your
“exercises”. Be on the lookout for the NEOFECT [https://www.neofect.com/] 
connect app that will show you how to work your training into everyday life.

To learn about how the Neofect Smart Glove can help you perform repetitive
exercises in a fun and motivating way during CIMT and beyond please call us at
888-623-8947 or email us at contactus@neofect.com. Our occupational therapists
[https://www.neofect.com/us/therapist] are available to help you on your rehab
journey!

References:

 1. Yu-Ping Chen, Stephanie Pope, Dana Tyler, Gordon L. Warren
    Clin Rehabil. 2014 Oct Effectiveness of constraint-induced movement therapy
    on upper-extremity function in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic
    review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
    [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25125440]; 28(10): 939–953. Published
    online 2014 Aug 14. doi: 10.1177/0269215514544982
 2. Kwakkel, G., Veerbeek, J. M., van Wegen, E. E., & Wolf, S. L. (2015). 
    Constraint-induced movement therapy after stroke
    [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4361809/]. The Lancet.
    Neurology, 14(2), 224–234. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70160-7
 3. Shin, J. H., Kim, M. Y., Lee, J. Y., Jeon, Y. J., Kim, S., Lee, S., … Choi,
    Y. (2016). Effects of virtual reality-based rehabilitation on distal upper
    extremity function and health-related quality of life: a single-blinded,
    randomized controlled trial
    [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4765099/]. Journal of
    neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 13, 17. doi:10.1186/s12984-016-0125-x

Additional References:
Constraint Induced Movement Therapy:
Cleveland Clinic - Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy
[https://my.clevelandclinic.org/pediatrics/departments/constraint-induced-movement-therapy]
Physiopedia - Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy
[https://www.physio-pedia.com/Constraint_Induced_Movement_Therapy]
Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery - Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy
-
Upper Extremity
[https://www.strokengine.ca/en/intervention/constraint-induced-movement-therapy-upper-extremity/]
Neuroplasticity:
Brainworks - What is Neuroplasticity
[https://brainworksneurotherapy.com/what-neuroplasticity]
ScienceDirect - Neuroplasticity
[https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/neuroplasticity]

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not
intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health
provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you
think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Reliance on any information provided by the NEOFECT website is solely at your
own risk.

Neuroplasticity

Using the Neofect Smart Glove to Maximize Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy

Hemiplegia and hemiparesis could seem very similar because they sometimes have the same underlying symptoms. However, they have different meanings.

Hemiplegia vs. Hemiparesis

Do you ever get mixed up trying to distinguish hemiplegia from hemiparesis? With
all of the confusing stroke terminology out there, it's hard to tell the
difference.



Hemiplegia and hemiparesis may seem very similar because hemiplegia and
hemiparesis have the same underlying symptoms. However, these terms have
slightly different meanings.

In this article, we'll break down the difference between hemiplegia and
hemiparesis, describe how to manage hemiplegic or hemiparetic arm weakness, and
review the long-term outcomes of each condition.


Hemiplegia and Hemiparesis

 * Definitions
 * Causes
 * Symptoms
 * Management
 * Prognosis
 * Conclusion

Definitions of Hemiplegia and Hemiparesis
How can one tell the differences between hemiparesis and hemiplegia? Both
conditions may be accompanied by symptoms including loss of movement
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/3-ways-to-recover-hand-motion-following-stroke]
, loss of sensation, abnormal muscle tone (hyper or hypotonicity), and loss of
postural control. One-sided weakness from hemiparesis or hemiplegia may span
from the head (including facial muscles), through the trunk and the arm, and
down to the legs. These can conditions even cause weakness on muscles inside of
the body!

Ultimately, there is a distinction between the two terms:

Hemiparesis
Hemiparesis indicates a mild to moderate degree of muscular weakness on one side
of the body.


Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia indicates a severe or complete loss of movement function on one side
of the body.


Although these terms are similar and often used synonymously, hemiparesis
relates to a milder form of one-sided weakness than hemiplegia. Hopefully that
begins to clear things up!

Causes
Hemiplegia and hemiparesis often have the same causes; however, use of one term
or the other depends on the severity of muscle weakness and dysfunction
resulting from central nervous system (brain or spinal cord) injury.

Brain damage can disrupt many functions, including movement control, sensation,
coordination, and thinking skills. Damage may alter or destroy the brain's
underlying neural pathways, the structures responsible for sending messages
related to controlling the rest of the body. Abnormalities in brain areas
responsible for controlling movement and muscle tone are primarily responsible
for causing hemiparesis or hemiplegia.


Hemiparesis or hemiplegia may occur as a result of the following diagnoses:

 * Stroke [/what-are-the-different-types-of-stroke/]: Stroke is one of the most
   common causes of one-sided bodily weakness. The severity of muscle weakness
   that you experience can depend on the size and location damage within the
   brain
   
   
 * Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A TBI can cause permanent brain damage. If the
   trauma only affects one side of the brain, hemiplegia can result on the
   opposite side of the body. Common causes of trauma include car accidents,
   falls, or blows to the head.
   
   
 * Spinal cord injury (SCI): SCI has many presentations. Depending on where the
   spinal cord was damaged, resultant weakness may affect only one side of the
   body.
   
   
 * Brain Tumors: Brain tumors can lead to a variety of physical problems
   including hemiplegia. Symptoms of hemiplegia may get worse as the tumor grows
   and invades brain areas that control movement.
   
   
 * Additional Causes: Multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy,
   amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
   
   


Symptoms
Hemiplegia or hemiparesis may present differently from person to person. Common
symptoms of these conditions include:

 * Muscle weakness wasting, or atrophy
   
   
 * Loss of coordination lack of gross or fine motor skills resulting in
   difficulties sitting, standing, walking, or reaching
   
   
 * Loss of normal muscle tone resulting in stiffness, spasticity, flaccidity
   
   
 * Loss of sensation difficulty detecting texture, temperature, touch, or pain
   
   


Management
There are many ways to manage symptoms of one-sided weakness from hemiplegia or
hemiparesis. Common treatment approaches include remediating physical function 
by strengthening muscles and restoring lost skills or compensating for
independent function using supportive devices.


Rehabilitation Treatment
The concept of neuroplasticity
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/why-neuroplasticity-matters-to-post-stroke-rehabilitation]
, which states that the body can adapt to the environment and change even after
the brain is damaged, suggests that it is possible to improve hemiplegic
symptoms through rehabilitation. High-frequency and high repetition
strengthening exercise and functional task training may help reduce weakness.

Equipment/devices
Assistive devices are used to enable independent functioning by supplementing
skills that the user cannot perform independently.

Common assistive devices used to make up for one-sided weakness include:

 * Mobility aids: wheelchair, walker, cane
 * Meal aids: universal cuff, built-up utensils, suction cup plates, high wall
   plates, no-slip mats
 * Dressing aids: reacher, sock aid, elastic shoelaces, long shoehorn
 * Bath accessories: shower chair, tub bench, raised toilet seat, grab bars,
   long-handled sponge
 * Bowel and bladder aids: catheter equipment, bowel program equipment
 * Splints and braces for the arm or leg

Mental health management
A significant medical condition associated with reduced physical functioning,
daily routine changes, or increased dependency on others can contribute to
feelings of hopelesness or depression. It is recommended that survivors partake
in psychological counseling to provide support, promote appropriate adjustment
to disability, and instill coping mechanisms and hope. Always ask your primary
doctor about mental health resources or a referral to a counselor in the event
that you are struggling.




Prognosis
What is the prognosis for hemiparesis or hemiplegia?

The prognoses of hemiplegia and hemiparesis are difficult to predict because
symptoms may change over time. Each person is different in how they recover from
brain, spinal cord, or nerve damage due to variables like age, current health,
and other underlying factors. Some will recover quickly with no treatment while
others will only see minor improvements even with extensive therapy.

However, even after damage, nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord show
capability to rewire and adapt to regain lost functions. It is possible for
older nerve pathways to heal and resume their original function or for
different, undamaged areas to perform the functions of the damaged area instead.

In order to promote neuroplastic changes for improved physical functioning,
health management, rehabilitation, and therapeutic activities and exercise are
vital. It helps to have a supportive medical team to guide you throughout the
process.

Looking for a convenient and effective rehab solution for stroke and hemiplegic patients?  Meet NEOFECT's RAPAEL Smart Glove today.  It is an amazing digital rehabilitation home care solution for stroke patients and patients with hemiplegia.

Home Care Solution for Stroke and Hemiplegic Patients

The Reason Neofect Develop Digital Rehab Solutions for Stroke Patients and
Patients with Hemiplegia


With a warm heart, Neofect [http://www.neofect.com/us/] develops a rehab
training solution that stroke or hemiplegic patients can use anytime and
anywhere. Here is how it started!

Rehab trainings that help stroke patients and patients with hemiplegia reclaim
their daily lives they have lost. An ordinary life one hangs the wash out,
waters the flowerpot, and goes to grocery. Taking a walk down the street while
talking: the life we take for granted. Yet this routine is a series of
challenges for those who have gone through a stroke or hemiplegia.
Inconveniencies in their lives that have come under the name of disabilities.
Stroke and hemiplegic patients strive to move and talk as they used to before,
putting a great deal of time and work.

These patients all want to receive a consistent rehab training after stroke. Yet
not so many of them complete the training due to the geographical reason, the
long period of time, and the medical expenses piling up.

There are people who are spending days and nights to develop a rehab training
for these stroke patients and patients with hemiplegia. They are Neofect, a
healthcare startup specializing in digital rehabilitation solution.



Neofect’s major rehab home care program for stroke and hemiplegic patients is a 
Neofect Smart Glove [https://www.neofect.com/us/smart-glove], which are equipped
with sensors that react to its game application.
Stroke patients and patients with hemiplegia in need of rehab put on these
gloves and move their hands while watching the gaming screen, so they can
improve the mobility and cognition of their hands. By turning the rehab process
into games, it keeps the patients motivated and encourages them to consistently
follow the trainings, making it easier for rehabilitating at home with no
restriction of space.

Furthermore, with active support from National Rehabilitation Center in Korea,
Neofect has also increased the value of its VR-based rehabilitation routine by
discovering the problems and needs at the actual sites where rehab sessions were
going on. National Rehabilitation Center also verified that compared to the
patient group that followed traditional rehabilitation methods only, the patient
group that used Neofect Smart Glove along with traditional rehabilitation shown
greater improvement in their mobilities.



- For the clinical trials, Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function
Test were employed to assess mobility, sense of balance and joint function after
stroke.

Neofect [http://www.neofect.com/us/] is a professional rehab solution company
which started out with concerns for the patients and their families. As he saw
the last moments of his father and his uncle when they were passing away due to
stroke, Neofect’s CEO Ho-young Ban keenly felt the necessity of trainings that
could reduce the financial burden for the patients while continuously improving
the rehab’s effect.

Then he started the business with his co-founder who was studying rehabilitation
engineering at that time. And after their constant investment in the R&D, they
finally developed the rehab solution it has today.


Three goals of Neofect [https://www.neofect.com/us]

 1. Make rehab trainings available anytime and anywhere for everyone.
 2. Foster development of rehabilitation equipment for various body parts.
 3. Expand the home-care rehab market in the global market.

Still unsatisfied, Neofect [https://www.neofect.com/us/for-home] is also putting
lots of effort to develop a solution that makes the rehabilitation of more body
parts easier and to build up a solid foundation for overseas markets. This is
NEOFECT’s genuine concern for the patients and their families.
We aim for the warm touches to reclaim the daily lives the patients have lost.


*Neofect Home Inquiry:
-www.neofect.com [https://www.neofect.com/us]
-Phone: (888) 623-8984 [tel:+18886238984]