If you, or someone you love, has suffered a stroke, it is very important that you understand what mental movement is, and how Mental Movement Therapy can contribute to recovery.
Are You Ready To Order?
Before we show you how to order, we should first help you decide what to order. There are six separate levels of the Mental Movement Evidence Therapy program. There are three levels for your arms or your upper body, and there are three levels for your legs or your lower body. You can select a level based on your current functional abilities, or simply select a level that contains a specific movement you would like to improve. Most of the movements in each level are functional tasks that people perform on a daily basis. However, we have also included a few isolated movements as components of functional activities, but many stroke recoverers find them difficult. For example, improving your ability to lift your toes and heels in a seated position (level 3 for your leg) will increase muscle control over your foot and ankle, and lead to improved overall balance with walking and improved efficiency with standing up from a chair.
Use the following guide to help you decide which level or levels are appropriate for you.
Arm / Upper Body
Level 1
You have very little to no ability to move your affected arm by itself.
- Track 1: Introduction to this level
- Track 2: Bend your elbow up and down, lying on your back
- Track 3: Reach to touch your hand to your opposite thigh, lying on your back
- Track 4: Instructions for a reaching game we call the Dot Game
- Track 5: Dot Game mental practice
- Track 6: Lean through your affected arm and leg to reach your stronger hand across your body (Bearing weight through your affected arm is an effective rehab technique for decreasing hypertonicity and regaining muscle control, but must be done with caution)
Level 2
You have regained some ability to move your affected arm by itself. You probably still have very little to no ability to move your hand or fingers.
- Track 1: Introduction to this level
- Track 2: Wipe a table with a rag
- Track 3: Feed yourself with a spoon
- Track 4: Lift a bowl, using both hands
- Track 5: Twist your forearm
- Track 6: Strum a guitar (Even if you’ve never played a guitar, give this one a try. It does not require any prior musical knowledge or ability.)
Level 3
Your ability to use your affected arm has improved significantly, but you still have some difficulty with precise hand and finger movements. You might have trouble performing tasks that require individual finger motions, or isolated wrist movements. You also might still have a very weak grip with your affected hand.
- Track 1: Introduction to this level
- Track 2: Open and close a door
- Track 3: Touch your thumb to each fingertip in an alternating fashion
- Track 4: Use your affected hand to drink from a cup
- Track 5: Ring a doorbell with your pointer finger
- Track 6: Play a very basic piano scale (Even if you’ve never played a piano, give this one a try. It does not require any prior musical knowledge or ability.)
Leg / Lower Body
Level 1
You have very little ability to move your affected leg. You probably have no muscle control of your affected foot at all. And you most likely are not able to walk or even stand up from a chair without a great deal of assistance.
- Track 1: Introduction to this level
- Track 2: Bend your affected knee up and down, lying on your back
- Track 3: Bridge exercise (i.e., lift hips from the bed), lying on your back
- Track 4: Instructions for a stepping game we call the Dot Game
- Track 5: Dot Game mental practice
Level 2
You have regained some of your ability to move your leg purposefully. You are beginning to regain your ability to stand up from a chair and to walk, but you might still require a little assistance with these tasks.
- Track 1: Introduction to this level
- Track 2: Stand up from a chair
- Track 3: Walk
- Track 4: Pull your wheelchair forward, using your leg
- Track 5: Pedal a stationary bicycle
Level 3
You have regained a significant amount of your affected leg’s strength and function. You are now walking safely on level surfaces, but you might still have some difficulty with unlevel surfaces or with stairs, and with the strength and precision of your ankle and foot.
- Track 1: Introduction to this level
- Track 2: Standing rear-kick or standing hamstring curl
- Track 3: Seated heel and toe raises
- Track 4: Press the accelerator and brake pedals of your car
- Track 5: Walk up stairs
- Track 6: Walk down stairs