Stroke Recovery Rehab

Much to my surprise, one of the most effective practices to help my stroke-affected left leg feel more like the leg I remember and less like a thousand-pound steel beam has been slacklining – a sport I knew little about pre-stroke. In this episode, I describe my experiences with slacklining after stroke and why this has become one of my favorite lower-body rehab exercises. For more information abo...

After a stroke, you can look “fine” to others but feel completely different inside as you work through identity shifts, frustration, fear of another stroke, and more. In this episode, I’m joined by Florence Acosta of the Becoming You With Florence Acosta newsletter to discuss some key takeaways from our recent article - The Hidden Mental Health Journey in Stroke Recovery . *Note: This podcast was...

Like anyone else, I received some great – and not so great – advice from doctors, therapists, friends, and family members on how I could improve my recovery after stroke. In this episode, I reflect on some early experiences after stroke and share some of the best advice I received, some of the worst, and some advice that I would now give other stroke survivors. For more information on any of the s...

Learned helplessness is an underrated challenge in stroke recovery. How do you push yourself safely when you’re not sure what your true abilities may be? In this episode, I share an article I wrote with my friend and fellow stroke survivor Nir Peled on the importance of not shying away from the challenges that stroke recovery brings. To learn more about Nir or any of the topics covered here, be su...

Stroke can fundamentally change who we are, how we process information, and how we react to situations. Feelings of irritability, confusion, anger, and anxiety are common after stroke. I was oblivious to any mental or emotional challenges I might face in stroke recovery during my time in the hospital and inpatient rehab. However, once I returned home and my physical abilities did not come back as...

Stroke survivors know that recovery doesn’t end when the physical and occupational therapy sessions end. Instead, you’re often on your own to find a way to rebuild your strength after a stroke, and the gym can be an important part of that. In this episode, I share some of my challenges with working out in a gym after stroke and four strategies that helped me feel comfortable in the gym again. For...

After stroke, just the thought of planning a meal, cooking it, and cleaning all the dishes felt overwhelming for me. It seemed impossible that I could do all of that in a timely manner. As I was stuck at home with little energy to cook and no ability to go to the grocery store alone, I was reminded of the 800-gram challenge, a simple nutritional framework that encourages you to eat more fruits and...

In this episode, I’ll recap an article I recently wrote with the Brain Injury Association of America , reflecting on some lessons learned through four years of stroke recovery . I share some thoughts on how neuroplasticity provides hope for stroke survivors, how to embrace change after stroke, and how to learn from setbacks in the years-long journey that is recovery after stroke. For more informat...

After a stroke, it’s easy to say no to new activities or challenging situations. But while that may feel good in the moment, the comfort trap of learned helplessness is often where progress in recovery slows down. In this episode, I’m joined by Nir Peled, a stroke survivor and author of the Beyond 100% newsletter , to discuss key takeaways from an article we wrote, Embracing the Challenges of Stro...

The first year after a stroke is often held up as this holy grail of how long it will take to recover. While it is true that significant progress can be made in year one, recovery after stroke doesn’t end after 12 months. You can continue to see and feel improvements in your abilities for many years after stroke. In this episode, I share some thoughts on stroke recovery timelines and why setting a...

In this episode, I share my experiences with walking backward in recovery after stroke and how this simple exercise turned out to be pretty helpful. Studies show that stroke survivors may benefit from walking backward in a variety of ways. For example, there’s evidence that this practice can improve a stroke survivor’s balance and gait – a person’s manner of walking. In my experience, the cliché “...

A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things that can improve recovery after a stroke since it’s critical for neuroplasticity. Unfortunately, a common side effect of stroke is trouble sleeping. In turn, every other aspect of recovery is subsequently made more challenging than it already is without a good night’s sleep. In this episode, I share my frustrating challenges with sleep after...

In this episode, I’ll discuss my experiences with constraint-induced therapy after stroke and how this can be an effective practice for stroke survivors. Constraint-induced movement therapy is exactly as it sounds – restraining one arm behind the back, so the stroke-affected arm and hand must perform the required activity. Although some rehabilitation facilities provide specialized constraint-indu...

Anxiety is a common side effect of stroke, especially considering people can worry about having another stroke. Research indicates that roughly 20% of stroke survivors may have anxiety-related issues. After stroke, I’ve found a variety of breathing exercises to be helpful in navigating the frustrating challenges that a stroke can cause, including anxiety. In this episode, I’ll be discussing two si...

While cognitive challenges caused by stroke are not visible like physical deficits, they still pose a substantial challenge in recovery. In this episode, I discuss some of the mental challenges that can come with stroke recovery and how these deficits can sometimes be overlooked compared to the physical deficits after stroke. For more information on cognitive challenges after stroke, be sure to re...

While the road to recovery after a stroke looks different for everyone, creating a personalized structure that supports ongoing progress is one of the most important things a stroke survivor can do. In this episode, I’m joined by occupational therapist and stroke survivor Anadee Nikte to discuss neuroplasticity-friendly habits that can support recovery after stroke. *Note: This podcast was origina...

In this episode, I discuss why mindset is important in recovery after stroke and how our perspectives on situations can sometimes help and hurt us. It’s difficult to stay positive after a stroke as you work through various mental and physical deficits for years, trying to get closer to the person you were before stroke. However, simply believing that there can be better days ahead is helpful as yo...

In this episode, I’ll discuss the concept of post-traumatic growth, or how living through a traumatic experience, like a stroke, can make you more resilient over time. Post-traumatic growth is commonly discussed in stroke survivor communities, with ample testimonials from stroke survivors saying their stroke experience has led to some potential benefits. While post-traumatic growth can occur after...

In this episode, I share how setting monthly goals helped me to make progress in recovery after stroke. In the years since my stroke, setting short-term goals that covered a variety of my interests has helped me to believe recovery is always progressing and prevented me from being discouraged that I’m not the person I used to be. Recovery after stroke doesn’t happen overnight, but following some s...

In this episode, I’ll share some common misconceptions about stroke recovery. While the doctors, nurses, and therapists that I met after stroke largely gave me great advice and suggestions on how to move forward in life after stroke, there are some concepts that I wish had been explained differently. These are the three things I wish I had better understood in the earliest days of recovery. For mo...

Journaling has long been seen as a therapeutic tool to help people navigate their emotions. In this episode, I’ll share why I’ve enjoyed keeping a personal journal on my experiences in stroke recovery and how journaling can help stroke survivors. I’ve journaled regularly in the years since my stroke, sitting down at my desk to write whenever I think of a story or experience that I’d like to rememb...

After a stroke, change is constant From the immediate onslaught of negative physical, mental, and psychological impacts to the years-long recovery journey filled with large and small wins in physical therapy, you’ll notice many changes along the way, sometimes unexpectedly. In this episode, I share some thoughts on adjusting to change after a stroke and why sometimes that change isn’t always negat...

Setbacks are unfortunately a common occurrence for stroke survivors. The cliché “Progress isn’t linear” certainly applies to recovery after stroke. While setbacks are undoubtedly frustrating and discouraging, they offer a chance to reconsider your approach to life after stroke. They can be an opportunity to make changes and learn from any mistakes you may have been making. In this episode, I’ll sh...

In this episode, I’ll be sharing why I started drinking beet juice after stroke, along with some interesting research on how beet juice could potentially support neuroplasticity. Like any supplement, beet juice isn’t going to bring about dramatic improvements in your post-stroke abilities, but it has the potential to improve your stamina for physical therapy sessions, thereby possibly improving re...

Balance issues are one of the most common challenges in recovery after stroke. Due to weakness and a lack of sensation on the stroke-affected side, stroke survivors are especially at risk for falls. In this episode, I’m joined by physical therapist and stroke survivor David Dansereau to talk about our experiences in improving balance after stroke. *Note: This podcast was originally recorded as a S...