What is Levodopa? Can it help with stroke rehab? Levodopa, or L-Dopa, is the precursor of the chemical dopamine.  Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter in the brain, which has many functions, including some control of movement.  In fact, the inadequate production of dopamine is thought to cause the movement difficulties in people with Parkinson’s disease.  […]

To AFO, or not to AFO….that’s the question. Your doctor or physical therapist may have suggested that you use an AFO (Ankle Foot Orthotic), because you don’t have enough muscle control over the foot muscles to lift your toes when you walk.  Here’s something to consider:  Using an AFO makes walking much easier and safer right […]

Proper Cane Fitting It seems like everybody and their dog has an opinion on how to fit a cane.  If it’s too short, you end up stooping down.  And if it’s too tall, you can’t really use it for support.  You might have heard that a cane should match your pant inseam length.  Wrong.  That […]

Assistive Devices for walking If you  need a little help with walking, you’ve got several options.  Here are some tips: Let’s start by talking about the quad cane and the hemi-walker. Quad Cane (large base) available at www.allegromedical.com Hemi-walker available at www.1800wheelchair.com Many therapists discourage using a quad cane or hemi-walker (also called a hemi-cane), […]

LOWER EXTREMITY ORTHOTICS An orthotic can be defined as a device placed externally on the body to modify the structure and/or function of the muscular, skeletal, or neurological system.   Some people call them splints.   One important use of orthotics after a stroke is to prevent contracture (stiffening of a joint due to shortened […]

Arm Slings There are many different types of arm slings available, to support the weight of your arm and assist in preventing subluxation of the shoulder joint, or to prevent injury to a very weak arm during walking or moving around.  Here are some tips on what you might want to try, and what you […]

Used Mobility Equipment www.usedhme.com If you are looking to buy or sell used mobility equipment, check out www.usedhme.com They have an easily searchable database of all types of used mobility equipment, from wheelchairs to hospital beds to raised toilet seats to wheelchair lifts for a van to………just look at their website.   AND if you’ve got […]

Hip Pads to prevent hip fracture after a Stroke Those who have had a stroke are at significant risk of falling, and one of the most common injuries sustained in a fall is a hip fracture.   (see “Don’t Fall!” for more information on how to prevent falling). the KPH hip protector pad, at www.hiprotector.com […]

A rehab device that uses repetitive bilateral arm training:  The “Tailwind” If you’re primary concern in your stroke recovery is arm function, you might look into this product:  The “Tailwind.”  It uses repetitive active or active-assisted motion of both arms in a rhythmic way, cued by a metronome.  It seems to be a fairly portable […]

Electrical Stimulation in Stroke Rehab There are a few different types of electrical stimulation devices used in stroke rehab, so let’s start with some definitions:   Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation TENS – typically does not use a waveform or an intensity level that is adequate to cause any muscles to contract.  Provides a sensory stimulation […]