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Quick Guide
Building My
Strength And Fitness
In Stroke Recovery
I now had to call on my body to
help support the re-programming
of my brain to muscle coordination.
This Guide Separates Fitness
From Pure Exercise.
PREVIEW
Almost immediately after my Stroke, exercise played a major role in my short and long term recovery. My body had reconditioned from neglect. And, my overall fitness was at an all time low. Now I had to call on my body to support the healing I anticipated for my brain and its necessary connections. This guide details my brand new interest in the mechanics of my mind and body.
My Stroke Recovery Began With This Paradox
I could not get fit unless I had some coordination. Paradoxily, I couldn't improve my coordination without muscles fit enough to perform their functions. This was recognized by my medical and therapeutic team, my family, and most importantly by me.
Regaining Coordination and Control In My Stroke Recovery
On the first day of my hospital stay I could only raise my right (stroke) arm or hand. However, I could NOT close my eyes and touch the tip of my nose with the finger of my right hand. It was a simple functions, yet it would take hundreds of attempts at hitting my nose that first few days. This was my earliest introduction to the concept, and practice, of neuroplasticity. This Guide outlines how I put my brain's ability to form and reorganize synaptic connections to perform movements and functions I had previously done without even thinking about them.
My Stroke Recovery Required Visualizing My Needs
It was important that I be able to visualize my desires to accomplish even the simplest of tasks on my own. Buttoning my shirt, combing my hair, brushing my teeth were all simple activities that required my developing coordination.
My Fitness For Stroke Recovery Started In My Hospital Bed
It was important that I be able to visualize what I wanted to do in order to accomplish even the simplest of tasks on my own. Buttoning my shirt, combing my hair, brushing my teeth were all simple activities that required rediscovering the necessary coordination. In this Guide I share how if I could envision my doing something, that reinforced my desire to try again and again until that particular skill returned for me.
Fitness After My Stroke Meant Making Walking A Prioity
My Acute Rehab was about getting muscles to respond enough for me to stand (with assistance) and take steps, however shaky they might be. Fitness at home meant extending those hard won steps for long enough journeys as would be needed for a renewed fitness based on developing strength and endurance. In this Guide I tell the story of how the then unimaginable challenge given to me by my out-patient physical therapist would drive me to new levels of fitness.
Barriers To Achieving Fitness In My Stroke Recovery
I soon discovered that Fitness was the easiest recovery component I could easily shrug off. So, it was up to me to decide what, when, and how I was going to get fit again following my Stroke, and demonstrate to my Team that I could make measurable contributions to In this Guide I outline the progression of what and how I wanted to be more fit in treatment, acute rehab and then home recovery.
Fatigue Caught Up To Me In My Stroke Recovery
At the end of my first three months, my recovery was going full steam. On the second Sunday of October, I had a record day with over six thousand steps in a single day. The very next day I CRATERED ! For days, I was completely drained of energy. It was
decided by my Recovery Team that I should " tap the brakes " on my fitness schedule and give my mind and body time to recover. In this Guide, I cover how I met this unexpected challenge and how I learned my biggest lesson in staying the course regardless of the obstacles I encountered.
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FREE
Stroke Angel Quick Guide
click below.
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