Here are 10 tips that help you stay committed to stroke recovery program at home for successful healing after a stroke.

10 Tips on How to Stay Committed to Stroke Recovery at Home

The key to successful healing after a stroke comes down to two things: intensity
and frequency of exercises. This is why it’s so important to stay motivated and
perform your stroke treatment at home [https://www.neofect.com/us/] program
daily or as prescribed by your therapist. Easier said than done, right?


Here are 10 tips that can help you stay committed to your stroke treatment at
home:


 1. Set a goal for yourself: Setting a goal for yourself can help you stay
    motivated. When setting goals, don’t forget to take time to celebrate the
    small wins that lead to big wins. For example, if you love to paint you
    could set a long-term goal to be able to paint and you may set a short term
    goal to pick up a paintbrush with your affected hand.
    
    
 2. Set up a routine: Setting a routine will lead to seeing good results from
    doing your therapy. The more you stick with your routine, the easier it will
    get! Consider setting reminders on your phone or calendar.
    
    
 3. Find your motivation: In order to stick with a program, it’s important to be
    motivated. Before you start your home therapy program, figure out what your
    true motivation is. Perhaps it’s being able to cook again. If you feel like
    you are starting to slack at your home therapy program, remember your
    motivation. Keep that recipe book nearby!
    
    
 4. Stay as independent as you can: Sometimes being in a hospital for awhile and
    getting help with everything can cause you to quickly forget how much you
    can still do for yourself! Once you’re home however, fight back to get your
    independence back. For example, put your shirt on yourself and just ask for
    help with buttoning if needed.
    
    



 5. Find support: Having support during the healing process is important to
    staying committed and motivated during the rehab process. That support can
    come from friends, family members or peers in a stroke support group. You
    just have to be remember that this journey doesn’t have to be lonely!
    
    
 6. Be present and celebrate each success: Don’t forget to celebrate each
    success instead of just looking at the end goal. It’s easy to lose
    motivation if you are thinking about all the things you can't do instead of
    the things you can. For example, if you want to be able to pitch a baseball
    again, celebrate when you’re first able to hold the ball in your hand again.
    Little by little, you’ll get there.
    
    
 7. Stay active in your hobbies: Stay committed to the activities you enjoy
    doing! It will help you stay motivated to get better.
    
    



 8. Learn about your body: After a stroke many people will have tone. It’s
    helpful to pay attention to when your tone is at its best and perform your
    home therapy program then. For example, if your tone is best in the morning
    then you should perform your home therapy program in the morning.
    
    
 9. Don't ignore emotional distress: It’s very common to start feeling down
    after a stroke. Make sure to reach out for some support if you are starting
    to lose your motivation or are feeling down. Your friends, family, and peers
    at local support groups want to see you succeed as much as you do.
    
    



 10. Find a fun and motivating way to perform your therapy: Home exercise
     programs can get boring, so look for fun ways to stay engaged. Neofect
     [https://www.neofect.com/us/] developed the Smart Glove and Smart Board to
     bring fun and motivating therapy into homes. The Smart Glove and Smart
     Board use a gamified approach [https://www.neofect.com/us/] to perform
     therapeutic exercises and are able to capture all improvements along the
     way!

To learn more about the Smart Glove and Smart Board please call (888) 623-8984
[tel:+18886238984] or email contactus@neofect.com.

stroke recovery time

10 Tips From an Occupational Therapist on How to Stay Committed to Stroke Recovery at Home

With the abundance of stroke-related research, it’s important to remember that every stroke, just like every person, is different! Here are some examples.

Exercises for each stage of Stroke recovery

We understand that recovering after a stroke can be a confusing journey. Often,
it is helpful for people that have suffered a stroke and their caregivers to
have an idea about what to expect. With the abundance of stroke-related
research, it’s important to remember that every stroke, just like every person,
is different! For example, pre-existing conditions, complications and unexpected
side effects can affect how a person moves through a typical recovery timeline.
Below we list the typical steps in a stroke recovery timeline:

Acute care
Acute care is the time immediately after a stroke, typically within the first 7
days. During this time, internal systems, such as breathing and heart rates, are
stabilized by medical professionals to try to prevent a recurrence.
Rehab exercises and protocols are usually not done at this time unless cleared
by the physician. A therapist may visit and help change positions to reduce
joint stiffness, swelling and pressure sores.



Acute rehabilitation
Acute care is the time immediately after a stroke, typically within the first 7
days. During this time, internal systems, such as breathing and heart rates, are
stabilized by medical professionals to try to prevent a recurrence.
Rehab exercises and protocols are usually not done at this time unless cleared
by the physician. A therapist may visit and help change positions to reduce
joint stiffness, swelling and pressure sores.



Exercises during this period may focus on:

 * Self-care training: Self-care training focuses on adapting to perform
   everyday tasks, such as dressing and eating.
 * Mobility training: Mobility training focuses on learning to use a cane or
   walker, if needed.
 * Functional electrical stimulation: Electrical stimulation is used to help
   jump-start muscles that need a nudge to perform functional activities, like
   holding a spoon or turning a door knob.
 * Daily exercise routines: Daily exercise routines are important to see
   results. This is because the consistency in performing tasks helps create the
   repetition that is required to continue progressing.

Long term rehabilitation
At this point 1 year post-stroke, most people have returned home or to a long
term care facility.
Although most motor and functional recovery happens in the first 3 months, there
is evidence that therapy is helpful throughout a person’s lifetime. For this
reason, it’s important to never give up, neuroplasticity never expires!

Here are options to continue rehab at home:

 * Virtual reality: New technology is available which takes advantage of the
   brain’s ability to rewire itself. To learn more, check out the fun and
   engaging Neofect Smart Rehab products [http://home.neofect.com].
 * Wearable devices: Devices Maintain the gains you have achieved through
   monitoring continued exercise with a wearable fitness device.
 * Robotic assistance- impaired limbs sometimes need a little extra help. Check
   out the Neofect NeoMano [https://igg.me/at/neomano/] to find out about
   assistive grip technology.



To learn more about Neofect smart rehab devices, call (888) 623-8984
[tel:+18886238984] or email info@neofect.com.