A swollen arm after stroke can lead to discomfort, pain, and difficulty with completing daily activities. Although arm and hand swelling may affect many stroke survivors, those with hemiplegia (one-sided paralysis) or hemiparesis (one-sided weakness) are particularly vulnerable. Lack of movement in the affected limb is often the primary cause of swelling, although other causes are plausible. It’s important for stroke survivors to talk with their medical team if they experience any swelling after stroke. Primary care doctors can often help determine the cause of swelling and provide a ..read more

Damage to the brain may be minimal following a mild traumatic brain injury or concussion, or it may be more extensive following severe injuries, such as a diffuse axonal injury. In either case, recovery begins when the brain starts healing itself. This begs the question: how does the brain repair itself after a traumatic injury? The brain is incredibly resilient and possesses the ability to repair and rewire itself through the process of neuroplasticity. This phenomenon is the reason why many brain injury survivors can make astounding recoveries.  This article will provide an overvie ..read more

All B vitamins are crucial for overall brain health, but vitamin B12 may be the most important. That’s because B12 may help improve general cognitive and motor function, and may even help prevent a second stroke. Vitamin B12 repairs and protects the health of neurons, the basic cells of the brain. This has enormous implications for stroke recovery. In fact, vitamin B12 can help stroke patients regenerate neurons and improve neural communications. This may have a direct impact on various stroke side effects, such as impaired movement. To learn more about the numerous benefits B12 offe ..read more

There are a variety of treatments for traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can help survivors boost recovery. However, treatment depends on many factors, such as the severity and location of the injury. Medical teams first assess the injury using a test or evaluation to determine the type of TBI and provide the necessary treatments, which may include surgery, medication, and/or rest. After initial treatment, survivors may sustain lasting secondary effects of traumatic brain injury. To treat these effects, survivors engage in rehabilitation therapy to strengthen and restore function ..read more

Aphasia after brain injury can occur when the areas of the brain that control language are impacted, which commonly occurs after a left hemisphere TBI. There are many types of aphasia; some affect the ability to produce language while others affect the ability to understand it. Because there are various types of aphasia and many different symptoms survivors can experience, it’s important to work closely with a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) for a proper diagnosis and rehabilitation plan. This article will guide you through the three most common types of aphasia after brain injury and h ..read more

If you are looking for some natural ways to recover from foot drop, we have some ideas for you to try. This article provides ways to cure foot drop naturally, avoiding medications or surgery. These natural remedies for foot drop are effective because they depend on the brain’s natural ability to heal and rewire itself. Discover how to cure foot drop naturally by maximizing your brain’s potential to activate the right neurons in your leg to control your ankle better. But first, let’s get a clear understanding of what foot drop is. Use the links below to jump straight to any section: Natur ..read more

Stroke survivors often require frequent physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy rehabilitation appointments. Thankfully, more rehabilitation clinics are incorporating stroke telerehabilitation services into their program offerings to address transport concerns and other barriers, such as time constraints, resource limitations, geographical challenges, or compliance with traditional therapy models.  Our recent article, Remote Rehabilitation for Stroke: What Sets it Apart? explores the benefits of virtual rehabilitation therapy along with a case study. In this article, we ..read more

To prevent stroke rehab from getting boring, it’s helpful to find fun activities for stroke patients to do at home. This ensures you keep stimulating your brain so it can adapt in ways that will help you recover function. Different activities require different brain responses and, therefore, promote recovery. For example, anything that gets you to use your legs more will improve your mobility and anything that gets you to think will enhance your “cognitive fitness.” The key to a healthy recovery from stroke is to continue to engage in all kinds of fun activities for stroke patients.  Ther ..read more

Natural remedies for stroke recovery offer a gentle way to heal the body and boost functional outcomes. Best of all, many natural remedies can be used from the comfort of home. Alternative treatments often appeal to stroke survivors that prefer to avoid the potential adverse side effects of medication. While modern medicine can play an important role in recovery, the following solutions can help boost recovery from stroke naturally. Use the links below to jump straight to any section: Brain-boosting foods Supplements to enhance recovery Chinese herbal medicines and supplements ..read more

After a stroke, survivors may start to actively lean towards the affected side of their body. This is a condition known as pusher syndrome, formally referred to as contraversive lateropulsion. Oftentimes, individuals with pusher syndrome are unaware that they are pushing their body toward one side. Rather, they feel as if they are sitting or standing upright. As a result, pusher syndrome can significantly affect an individual’s balance and increase the risk of falling. Fortunately, there is a positive recovery outlook for stroke survivors who experience pusher syndrome. This article will furth ..read more