Becky Alter, OTR/L

brain aneurysm

What is a Brain Aneurysm?

A brain aneurysm is when one has a bulge in a blood vessel located in the brain. A brain aneurysm can burst or leak and when that happens it can cause a hemorrhagic stroke.

Stroke Recovery

How Can I Regain Hand Function After a Stroke?

Many stroke survivors notice that the hand takes the longest to recover after a stroke. This may become very frustrating for many. However, there are two main techniques and exercises that can help speed the recovery of the hand up! Repetitive hand exercises: Repetitive hand exercises are the most important

Electrical Stimulation

How Can Electrical Stimulation Help After a Stroke?

Electrical stimulation therapy consists of taking electrodes and attaching them on to the skin over a muscle. Once the electrical stimulation unit is activated, it sends electrical currents to the muscle causing it to contract.

multiple sclerosis

What is Multiple Sclerosis and How Can an Exercise Routine Help?

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack the central nervous system.

stroke recovery and rehabilitation

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

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.

hypertension

Why is Maintaining a Healthy Blood Pressure Important?

Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is very important because the higher your blood pressure is the higher your chances of having health issues are. All of your body's important organs, such as your brain and heart, receive nutrients and oxygen through your blood flow.

numbness after stroke treatment

Are There Treatments For Numbness After a Stroke?

Many stroke survivors experience numbness in their affected limbs. This makes it very hard for stroke survivors to be functional with their affected limbs. Luckily, stroke survivors have the ability to overcome the numbness.

stroke rehab device

How to Determine the Best at Home Stroke Rehab Device to Use

Once you or a loved one is released from the hospital after having a stroke and are back home it is important to start thinking about how to best continue your post stroke rehabilitation program.

Left Sided Neglect

What is Left Neglect and How Can I Treat it?

Left sided neglect is defined as impaired awareness of stimuli on one side of the body, despite not having any sensory loss to that side of the body.

Fall Prevention

Fall Prevention Techniques for Stroke Survivors

Stroke survivors are three times more likely to fall at home after having a stroke than the general population.

Stroke Prevention

How Can I Prevent Having Another Stoke?

More than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke every year. About 185,00 of these strokes happen to people who have had a previous stroke.

Signs of Stroke for Men

What are the Early Warning Signs of Stroke in Men?

Both men and women can suffer from a stroke. However, men exhibit different warning signs than woman do.

stroke hand contracture

How can I Prevent Hand Contracture After a Stroke?

Contracture is another name for extreme stiffness in the muscles, joints, or connective tissue. It is an advanced form of spasticity. Many stroke survivors suffer from a large amount of spasticity in their affected hand, which can lead to a clenched fist.

stroke victim support

Emotional and Behavioral Challenges After a Stroke

A stroke can affect people in a variety of different ways, such as impacting muscle movement, cognition, speech, and even personalities. Emotional and behavioral changes can sometimes be the most challenging for both stroke survivors and their loved ones. Emotional and behavioral changes can be caused by the physical changes

stroke recovery time

10 Tips From an Occupational Therapist 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 program daily or as prescribed by your therapist. Easier said than done, right? Here are

robot hand glove

NeoMano Robot Hand Can Help with Independence in Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

NeoMano is a robotic glove that helps with grasp in order to give people back their hand function and independence.

Stroke Rehab

Portable Home Therapy for Stroke Rehab

Research has shown that utilizing the Neofect Smart Glove 5 times per week for at least 30 minutes has increased users upper extremity function as well as overall quality of life.

left side stroke

5 Symptoms of a Left Side Stroke of the Brain

Every stroke is different and will affect people differently based on the severity. The left hemisphere of the brain can cause the following 5 symptoms.

AI Rehab

Stroke Rehab: What Does Technology Have to Do With It?

According to the National Stroke Association, 795,000 American adults each year suffer from a stroke during their life. Of this 795,000, 65% of them require some sort of therapy after a stroke. Many people suffer from hemiparesis or muscles weakness after a stroke. In order to regain range

NeoMano

NeoMano: Regain Hand Function and Independence

What is NeoMano? NeoMano is a wearable, soft robotic hand created by Neofect that enables and empowers people with hand paralysis to perform daily activities. It fits over the thumb, index, and middle finger while leaving the other fingers and part of the hand uncovered. With the use of NeoMano,

Home Health Service

3 Things Most People Don’t Know About Home Health Services

Many people get discharged from an inpatient rehab setting and are told that they will receive home health services when they return home. However many people do not fully understand what home health entails, why they qualified and how long they are eligible for these services. What Services can Home

Mini Stroke

Ministroke and Stroke: What Should We Do for TIA Recovery?

What is a ministroke or TIA? The term “ministroke” is refers to a temporary blood flow irruption to part of the brain. Another name for this occurrence is a transient ischemic attack, or TIA. A ministroke or TIA should be considered a warning sign for a major stroke. Around 1

Stroke Rehab

5 Stages of Your Stroke Rehab Progress

Stroke recovery is going to be different for everyone based on their age, where the stroke occurred, what type of stroke they had as well as the stroke survivors health before the stroke. Based on how one is affected by the stroke will determine their stages of rehab. Not everyone

Fine Motor Skill

3 Ways to Recover Hand Motion Following Stroke

Fine Motor Skills after Stroke Stroke causes weakness and or paralysis in about 75% of stroke survivors(1). This can cause difficulties with activities of daily living such as getting dressed, eating and bathing. Having to depend on others to assist with activities of daily living can get frustrating but