It is important to start doing therapeutic exercises as soon as your doctor clears you to after a stroke. Many people may experience shoulder weakness which can lead to shoulder pain. 

How can I increase my shoulder strength and decrease pain after a stroke?


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Having a stroke often results in one-sided weakness. This weakness will usually
affect the upper extremity as well as the lower extremity. It is important to
start doing therapeutic exercises as soon as your doctor clears you to after a
stroke. Right after a stroke, many people may experience shoulder weakness which
can lead to shoulder pain. In order to regain strength and mobility in the
shoulder, you must retrain your brain through a process called neuroplasticity
[https://home.neofect.com/blog/why-neuroplasticity-matters-to-post-stroke-rehabilitation]
. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to create new connections and neuro
pathways by performing repetitive movements.

Common shoulder conditions one may exhibit after a stroke are:

Shoulder Subluxation: A shoulder subluxation is when one partially dislocates
the shoulder and the head of the arm bone comes partially out of the socket.
This can be caused by weakness or spasticity. Another common physical condition
after a stroke is a paralyzed arm.. A paralyzed arm often hangs to the side of
the body, and without the proper support from the shoulder muscles, gravity
stretches the tissues around the shoulder complex causing a shoulder
subluxation. Therefore, it is important to provide proper support for the
affected arm at all times.

Treatment ideas: Perform repetitive and gentle motions in order to retrain the
brain through the process of neuroplasticity. The stronger the neural pathways
are the more relaxed your shoulder will be! In order to address the pain, one
can use a sling or kinesio taping, however, one should not use a sling all the
time! Electrical stimulation is another common treatment idea. Electrical
stimulation
[https://www.strokeassociation.org/en/about-stroke/effects-of-stroke/physical-effects-of-stroke/physical-impact/functional-electrical-stimulation] 
can help increase blood flow, decrease pain, decrease inflation, and increase
function.

Frozen Shoulder: Frozen shoulder is characterized by stiffness and/or pain in
your shoulder. This is caused by non-use of the shoulder for an extended period,
and symptoms usually begin gradually, worsening over time.

Treatment ideas: In order to treat frozen shoulder, it is important to do
gentle, therapeutic exercises and keep that shoulder moving. Many doctors will
recommend taking an over-the-counter anti-inflamortary medication to decrease
inflammation and pain allowing for increased range of motion. Electrical
stimulation can also help with frozen shoulder by increasing circulation and
decreasing pain.



Tone/Spasticity in Shoulder: Spasticity in the shoulder is caused by involuntary
muscle contractions. When these muscle contractions are more mild, it can cause
muscle tightness. If it is more severe, however, it can cause uncontrollable
spasms. Tightness and spasms in the muscles caused by a stroke can result in a
great amount of shoulder pain.

Treatment ideas: When addressing tone and spasticity, you will need to perform
repetitive shoulder exercises in order to retrain the brain through the process
of neuroplasticity. Retraining the brain will help you have more control over
your movements as well as help relax the muscles. Many doctors will prescribe
medications such as Botox or Baclofen to help decrease the tone and spasticity.
Medications should be used in conjunction with therapeutic exercises for optimal
results.

Central Post Stroke Pain: Sometimes after having a stroke, people can suffer
from Central Post Stroke Pain which is when your brain misinterprets stimulation
as pain. This is caused by a neurological condition.

Treatment ideas: Unfortunately, Central Post Stroke Pain is very hard to treat.
Talk to your doctor about different pain meds that may help address this issue.

One way to help address shoulder pain and shoulder weakness is by using the 
Neofect Smart Board [https://www.neofect.com/en/product/pt-shoulder-arm/] to
retrain the brain by doing repetitive therapeutic exercises based on the theory
of neuroplasticity. The Neofect Smart Board unweights the user’s affected arm
and focuses on repetitive functional movements in order to increase overall
range of motion, coordination, and timing through reach retraining activities in
a virtual reality world.



The Smart Board provides therapeutic gaming activities that simulate aspects of
daily living as well as some fun, innovative games that mimic movement patterns
that are common in everyday life. Technology does not only make therapy more
motivating and fun, it also allows for our clients to accurately track their
progress. The Smart Board allows for a high intensity and a high repetition
program in a short amount of time. A recent study performed at Stanford Medical
Center found that for best results it is important to utilize the Smart Board
for at least 30 minutes a day, five times per week. Consistency is key!

To find out more information regarding the Smart Board please call us at
888-623-8947 or email us at contactus@neofect.com.

stroke recovery and rehabilitation

How Can I Increase My Shoulder Strength and Decrease Pain After a Stroke?

Recovery after stroke is different for every person. After someone survives a stroke their recovery starts day one and can continue for several years. 

How to Quickly Recover After Stroke


Stroke recovery is different for every person. After someone survives a stroke
their recovery starts day one and can continue for several years. The severity
of the stroke impacts how a person’s recovery will go. Recovery after stroke
[https://www.neofect.com/us/smart-glove] starts with making goals with your
physical, social, and emotional aspects of your life. You will make changes to
your life to prevent additional strokes along with focusing on life long
recovery. Patients and caregivers will have to understand that the recovery is
slow and unpredictable. No one can really map out how a person will truly
recover from a stroke because the way our brain heals is so complex. Medical
professionals such as doctors, nurses, and therapists can make only an educated
guess of how a person will recover based on the location and severity of the
stroke.

Support from family and friends is a huge component during the recovery process.
They give the person a sense of belonging to the world and purpose to life they
had prior to the stroke. Patients who are recovering from a stroke need to feel
connected more than ever to help increase the motivation to push through the
hardest moments of their rehabilitation process. Family involvement also allows
for better education and training to happen so the patient can return home when
medically appropriate. Doctors, nurses, and therapist can train the
family/caregivers in how to best care for the patient so they can return to
their home environment safely.

Stroke rehab [https://www.neofect.com/us/for-home] will help increase recovery
allowing a person to get back to living a full life. Rehabilitation focuses on
high intensity repetitions which drive the key term of neuroplasticity which
doctors and therapist focus on. Through rehab you’ll focus on learning new
skills or relearning old skills. The biggest skills that are important to
relearn after a stroke are motor skill learning, mobility skills, cognitive
training and activities of daily living.

Occupational, Physical, and Speech therapist focus on intensity exercises that
will set a person up for success in relearning these important skills. A patient
will start experiencing stroke rehabilitation as soon as they become medically
stable in the hospital to increase the recovery process. The biggest factors for
people in the recovery process are time and intensity.



What can a patient expect to see during stroke rehabilitation?

During the therapy process you can expect to see things involving physical and
technology-assisted physical activities.

Physical Activities may include but not limited to:

 * Motor-Skill Exercises that focus on improving muscle strength and
   conditioning. An example of this would be a speech therapist doing swallowing
   exercises to increase patient’s ability to eat.
 * Mobility Training that teaches a patient to relearn how to walk again along
   with learning to use mobility aids such as a cane, walker, wheelchair or
   ankle/knee braces. After having a stroke a patient may experience drop foot
   and need an ankle foot orthosis to help correct the deficit.
 * Constraint-Induced Therapy which takes the unaffected limb and restrains it
   while you practice functional movements with your affected limb. This type of
   therapy helps force a patient to use their affected limb instead of
   forgetting about it.
 * Range of Motion Therapy provides exercises and treatments to help address
   increase muscle tone and spasticity to increase functional range of motion.
   Examples that patients may see are hemi slides for the upper extremity using
   a towel/sheet on a table top.




Technology-Assisted Therapy include but not limited to:

 * Functional Electrical Stimulation can help stimulate weak muscles to promote
   a contraction which will help with muscle re-education.
 * Robotic Technology will help impaired limbs perform repetitive motions
   helping increase muscle re-education for functional gains.
 * Wireless Technology helps monitor post stroke activity to allow a patient to
   see the functional movement they have.
 * Virtual Reality Technology uses video games and other computer based
   activities that allow patients to interact with simulated or real time
   activities within their environment.

These are just a few things a patient may experience during their rehabilitation
process. The best advice for a person who has survived a stroke is to seek high
intensity therapy as quickly as possible. This will increase the chances of
living life to the fullest. As you come to understand the best options for you
or a loved one’s rehab journey, don’t miss the opportunity to check out Neofect
[https://www.neofect.com/us/] Home Rehab Solutions. Neofect Home Rehab products
[https://shop.neofect.com/] are clinically proven to improve hand and arm
functionality at home with fun and engaging activities.

To learn more, (888) 623-8984 [tel:+18886238984] or email us at info@neofect.com

The NEOFECT Smart Glove is a stroke rehab device to help stroke survivors regain functionality in their hands and arms through games and activities.

Stroke Rehab Device NEOFECT Smart Glove Aids in Stroke Recovery

The Neofect Smart Glove is a stroke rehab device to help stroke survivors
[https://www.neofect.com/us/smart-glove] regain functionality in their hands and
arms. The Smart Glove challenges users through entertaining games and activities
to increase hand and arm movement as well as functionality.

One of the Neofect Smart Glove’s goals to improve movement is through retraining
the brain. The brains’ ability to rewire itself after stroke or brain injury is
also known as neuroplasticity. At Neofect [https://www.neofect.com/us/for-home] 
we know that repetition is the key to helping strengthen the brain. Consistent
and repetitive training is an important feature of the Smart Glove stroke rehab
device. The Neofect Smart Glove offers 5 ways to improve movement for users:

 * Multi-sensory feedback
 * Wide variety of engaging games and activities that get more challenging as
   the users’ mobility improves
 * Customizable goals
 * Session tracking and evaluation
 * On-going clinical support

The Smart Glove ensures that you do your exercises correctly and gives you
instant feedback to evaluate your performance with only minimal movement needed
for success.

For more information on the Neofect Smart Glove and other post stroke rehab
devices, contact us today [https://www.neofect.com/us/contact] at (888)
623-8984.

How does the SMART GLOVE facilitate stroke recovery?

Lecturer: Has a stroke left you struggling to regain full functionality in your
arm or hand? Introducing the Neofect Smart Glove, a biofeedback training device
from Neofect USA.

Repetition is the key to increase mobility. Our Smart Glove encourages
repetition in a fun, engaging way through interactive training games,
challenging you to improve arm and hand function through neuroplasticity which
is the brain's ability to retrain itself after an injury. Through repetition,
you can strengthen other pathways in the brain to improve the use of your
affected side.

The Neofect Smart Glove offers five key ways to help improve your movement.

 1. Multi-sensory feedback, which allows you to learn more quickly.
 2. Daily training programs including over 40 training activities, making
    repetitive training engaging.
 3. Customized goals based on your movement, increasing the challenge each
    session.
 4. Built-in evaluation session to track your progress.
 5. Ongoing clinical support by an in-house occupational therapist who can
    consult with you.

By the way, it's only necessary to have a small amount of active motion to use
the Smart Glove. As long as your movement is visible to the eye, you are
eligible for the Smart Glove.

Call us [https://www.neofect.com/us/contact] to start your smart rehab with the
Neofect Smart Glove today.

Stroke Rehab

How the Neofect Smart Glove Stroke Rehab Device Aids in Stroke Recovery

After having a stroke, Marcy began looking for at-home stroke rehabilitation solutions. This is Marcy's story after her 1 month of acute rehab in the hospital.

Stroke Recovery Story After Stroke and Acute Rehab in the Hospital



Soon after having a stroke, Marcy began looking for stroke rehabilitation
solutions that she can do at home. She went from the hospital to an acute rehab
for 1 month before being discharged. After which, Marcy became concerned about
going from having stroke physical therapy 6 times a day to once a week. She knew
that she needed a lot of repetition in her post stroke rehabilitation and did
not think she was going to get that in her weekly therapy session.

Q & A with Stroke Survivor Marcy

Where did you engage in rehab and how long did it take
I started looking for solutions while still in rehab. I was in a local hospital
for a week and then acute rehab for 1 month. I worked with an OT 3 times a day.
I was going from therapy 6 times a day to once a week, which concerned me a lot.

Why did you decide to look for additional tools for at-home rehab? Were there
other devices that you purchased or considered?
I am a nurse educator, so I have some background information on neuro rehab.
Knowing how important repetition is for rehabilitation, I was concerned to be
only going to therapy once a week. I spent a lot of time Googling different
rehab solutions to try to understand it the best I could. At first, the only
at-home rehabilitation solution I only came across was the Flint Music Glove.

Where did you go to find out about the different rehab solutions?
I Googled a lot of different post stroke rehab [https://www.neofect.com/us/] 
solutions to try to understand it as thoroughly as I could. I found that I can
search ‘Stroke OT exercises’ every day and find something new. My daughter also
did some research and found some solutions on Pinterest. At first, I only saw
the Flint Music Glove, which I found on Facebook and via Google. Aside from
that, my therapist recommended a book, My Stroke of Insight. I also found the
book Healing the Broken Brain to be very helpful.

When and how did you first find out about the Neofect Smart Glove?
After leaving the hospital, I found the Neofect Smart Glove
[https://www.neofect.com/us/smart-glove] through a Facebook group that mentioned
the product and decided to do my own research on it.



Why did you choose Neofect Smart Glove among the options?
I was attracted to the variety of games, which made me think it would keep me
more engaged. I wanted something that would change with my progress and
challenge me. I believed the Neofect Smart Glove to be the right stroke rehab
device [https://www.neofect.com/us/] for me because I understood that the games
adapt to the patient’s progress.

How easy do you feel that it was to obtain the Smart Glove? What was confusing,
if anything, about the process?
I simply filled out a contact form and then Neofect reached out to me. It was
very easy after that. Neofect was really great at answering all of my questions.
They sent me a size guide, called the day after I received it to make sure I got
everything and understood how to use it.

I have been using the glove since May. I really liked the in-person visit that
helped me understand how important the motion capture is to setting up the
exercise correctly. I personally would appreciate a clearer demonstration of
correct vs. incorrect usage during the onboarding call.

How long have you been using the glove? What functional changes have you noticed
since you started using the product?
I am now better able to open and close my hand and have noticed some improvement
with my wrist as well. I am now also able to move my index finger to my thumb.
However, I still do highly favor my other hand for more functional activities.

What advice would you give to someone that’s thinking about coming on board with
the Neofect Smart rehab system?
I would definitely tell them to do it. This system helped me with my hand
rehabilitation and it’s fun at the same time.

Has this device or approach to therapy influenced anyone else in your life? Have
you used the Smart Glove with a therapist?
I think the in-person session with my Neofect [https://www.neofect.com/us] 
therapist was very useful. My regular therapist also regards the Neofect Smart
Glove very positively and recommends it. I think Lauren’s visit was very useful
to push it along though. The more a therapist can see the Smart Glove in action
the more they will recommend it to other people. My therapist has talked to
other patients about it.

For more information on the Neofect Smart Glove and other post stroke rehab
devices, contact us [https://www.neofect.com/us/contact] today at (888)
623-8984.