The Info Grateful My PT Taught Me to Squat | Health News

12.59.00

advanced ADLs, basic ADLs, hemiplegic leg

I did NOT do this I am glad my in-patient PT made me squat while reaching down with my sound hand to pick up plastic cones sitting on a ...

The Info My GPS is an Ideal Spouse | Health News

05.00.00

driving, meaningful tasks make OT personal

I am taking a road trip to present at an OT conference so I am getting ready to use my GPS.  I need a GPS because this trip requires me to u...

The Info Insight Into My Soul | Health News

05.00.00

frustration

I have wondered why I always get irritated when able-bodied people offer to help me.   These kind-hearted people see that they could do what...

The Info Carts Keep Me and My Stuff Safe | Health News

05.22.00

advanced ADLs, fall prevention, somebody teach us to turn

The photo shows I do not use a cart to transport objects a long distance in my small kitchen.  However, the cart saves me from making numero...

The Info Astronauts & 1900's Women Get Surviving Stroke | Health News

05.00.00

frustration

Before I had a stroke I would have found my post "9 Things I Have to Do to Drive Independently" obsessively tedious.  I know of on...

The Info 9 Things I Must Do to Be Independent in Driving | Health News

02.30.00

driving, fall prevention

Regaining independence in driving took more than being trained to drive one-handed by a certified OT driving instructor.  There were nine ad...

The Info Conclusions from Multiple Studies Can Be Flawed | Health News

05.00.00

health care system

The gold standard of medicine has been to find one treatment that makes everyone healthy.  To find this "holy grail" authors compa...

The Info A New Hand Evaluation for Stroke Survivors | Health News

05.00.00

hemiplegic hand

Van Lew and associates (1) studied the reliability of a hand evaluation called Functional Upper Extremity Levels (FUEL). What They Got Rig...

The Info Nails Do Not Stop Growing After a Stroke | Health News

05.49.00

basic ADLs, frustration

         CAUTION: CLIPPING NAILS REQUIRES GOOD SENSATION AND COORDINATION I live alone so I have to cut my nails .  I cut the nails on m...

The Info Update on Applying Make-up One-Handed | Health News

05.00.00

advanced ADLs

Applying eye liner requires the ability to close one eye while you keep the other open.  I can only blink (close both eyes at once).  So I ...

The Info Outcomes That Stroke Patients Prefer | Health News

05.00.00

health care system

PROSPER stands for P atient-centered R esearch into O utcomes S troke P atients prefer and E ffectiveness R esearch.  A current PROSPER stud...

The Info Why Mice Are Not Men | Health News

06.00.00

frustration

The Dilemma .  Innovative treatments have helped mice who have been given strokes, but the results often cannot be duplicated in humans.  A ...

The Info Snow Shoes for a Stroke Survivor | Health News

05.16.00

basic ADLs, snow strategies

Since my stroke I am careful about venturing outside when it snows, but I am not trapped inside until spring comes either.  I never walk on ...

The Info Keeping My Christmas Spirit | Health News

06.09.00

fatigue is a deal breaker

This is a photo of the Christmas tree I have put up every year since my stroke.  After I fell on my patio in October I looked for ways to re...

The Info Pain is a Great Motivator | Health News

05.00.00

hemiplegic leg, pain

My PT made me realize the gluteus maximus ( GM ) muscle on my hemiplegic (paralyzed) side was as soft as unkneaded bread dough.  This butto...

The Info Progress 11 Years After My Stroke | Health News

05.00.00

hemiplegic leg, pain

I started PT after injuring my back when I fell on my patio in October.  This is my first experience with precision PT.  Instead of having m...

The Info Answering Machine Challenge | Health News

05.00.00

advanced ADLs, frustration

Opening voice mail requires a code.  I use an answering machine because all I have to do is push the blinking button on the machine to hear ...

The Info Tying Shoes One-handed | Health News

05.00.00

basic ADLs

I shuddered when my OT put brown shoelaces on my beige shoes.  I had forgotten elastic shoelaces only come in black, brown, and white.  I wa...

The Info The Zipping Challenge is Not What You Think | Health News

05.09.00

basic ADLs, hemiplegic hand, snow strategies

Now that it is cold I need to zip my coat.  Velcro closures on my raincoat do not keep me warm.  When I sit, gaps form between the Velcro ta...

The Info The Garden Hose Won and My Back Lost | Health News

05.00.00

fall prevention, pain

As the oldest daughter, I learned to pretend to be calm when bad things happened to my younger siblings, like my sister falling off her bike...