Neuroplasticity in Stroke Recovery

What is Neuroplasticity?

Neuroplasticity, also known as neural plasticity or brain plasticity, refers to the brain’s ability to adapt or change (1). Neuro refers to the neurons, the nerve cells that are the building blocks of the brain and nervous system, while plasticity refers to change

The brain rewires itself through neuroplasticity. Brain cells send messages, which are the neural connections around the brain. However, when an individual experiences a stroke, the stroke damages some of the connections inside the brain in addition to the connection between the brain and the rest of the body (4). Rehabilitation activities help the brain in making new neural connections in the healthy parts of your brain. More neural connections can improve your brain’s ability to control your body and perform daily activities. Every time you take an extra step, say a new word or do an exercise, it helps the brain make new connections (4).
The brain rewires itself through neuroplasticity. Brain cells send messages, which are the neural connections around the brain. However, when an individual experiences a stroke, the stroke damages some of the connections inside the brain in addition to the connection between the brain and the rest of the body (4). Rehabilitation activities help the brain in making new neural connections in the healthy parts of your brain. More neural connections can improve your brain’s ability to control your body and perform daily activities. Every time you take an extra step, say a new word or do an exercise, it helps the brain make new connections (4).

Physical Benefits:

• Speeds up all-around stroke recovery

• Recovers strength

• Improves balance

• Increases walking speed

• Boosts the ability to perform daily routine activities

• Prevents the recurrence of strokes

Mental Benefits:

• Reduces depression and enhances mood

• Boosts brain health

• Relieves stress

• Helps in increasing a sense of self-worth and self-reliance that can decrease after a stroke

• Gives patients a sense of purpose and a goal to work towards

• What is the Ipsihand?

References:

https://positivepsychology.com/neuroplasticity/#stroke-neuroplasticity (1)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557811/ (2)

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-brain-plasticity-2794886 (3)

https://www.stroke.org.uk/effects-of-stroke/neuroplasticity-rewiring-the-brain (4)

https://www.flintrehab.com/neuroplasticity-after-stroke/ (5)

https://tactustherapy.com/neuroplasticity-stroke-survivors/ (6)

https://www.stroke.org.nz/sites/default/files/inline-files/Your%20Guide%20to%20Exercise%20after%20a%20Stroke%202017%20%281%29.pdf (7)

https://www.scielo.br/j/anp/a/JL9mMt9QKWp8g85shXndnWs/ (8)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3266302/ (9)

https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-stroke-exercises (10)

https://strokerecoverybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GRASP_All_3_levels11490.pdf (11)

https://ninkatec.com/nutrition-and-fitness-for-stroke-recovery/ (12)
Seek out a qualified rehabilitation counselor.
Is Ipsihand covered by insurance? Not yet
How much is Ipsihand? The Neurolutions IpsiHand system is a qualified medical expense under a heath savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA). Please verify youreligibility by checking with your individual physicianNeuroplasticity in Stroke Recovery

My Medication Rights | Medication Instructions that Patients Understand

Tell the FDA you want a Patient Friendly Format that’s standardized, with instructions that are clear, easy to understand, and proven to help patients comprehend important medication information. Now is the time to act. 

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FDA Format

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My Medication Rights | Medication Instructions that Patients Understand

How can you use active listening to help your patients

Active listening is a cornerstone of effective patient care. It goes beyond simply hearing words; it involves a genuine effort to understand the patient's concerns, emotions, and perspectives. In healthcare, where accurate diagnosis and empathetic communication are crucial, active listening builds trust and fosters a strong patient-provider relationship. It's not just a skill; it's a manifestation of respect and compassion, essential for delivering patient-centered care. As a healthcare professional, mastering active listening is akin to unlocking a door to better patient outcomes and improved overall well-being.

How can you use active listening to understand healthcare policy more comprehensively?

How To Use Open Notes – Your Guide to the World of Open Notes

After an office visit, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers write notes that summarize important information about you. These notes become a part of your medical record.

When a note is shared with you it becomes an “open note.” Notes are the story of your health care and connect other elements in your medical record. 

Did you know?

• Health systems are required to share your notes with you
• Reading your notes can help you manage your healthcare
• Reading your notes can help you take more control of your health
• Studies show that open communication with your doctor or nurse benefits you and your care partners

After a medical visit, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers write notes that summarize important information about you. These notes become a part of your medical record. When a note is shared with you, it becomes an “open note.”

An open note may include:

• A summary of what you told the doctor or nurse, also called a “history.”
• The provider’s findings from a physical exam. Examples may include blood pressure, weight, how your lungs or heart sound, a description of a growth on your skin, or observations about your mood.
• Your provider’s thoughts about the results of your lab tests, x-rays, scans, biopsies, or other tests.
• Summary thoughts about any medical conditions or symptoms. This section may also be called “assessment” or “impressions.”
• Recommendations were made during the visit. This section is often called the “treatment plan” or “plan of care.” Notes might include ordered tests, prescribed medications, follow-up appointments, referrals, exercises, or recommended changes to your diet.

How notes look depends on many things, including who wrote the note, the kind of visit you had, or where you get care. Some notes are short. Others might include a complete description of your visit. Longer notes may include additional details about your health, such as past problems or test results. Some notes may include information that doesn’t seem relevant due to various insurance requirements or other rules and regulations.

Research shows that most people remember less than half of what they talk about with their doctor. An open note helps you remember important information. It also gives you freedom to review details of your visit at any time.

Studies show that reading open notes can help you:

Manage your health care in a way that makes you feel more confident, prepared, and in control

Better understand your medications and what you need to do between visits

Remember to schedule follow-up appointments and tests, such as mammograms or eye exams

Do you rely on help for your own care? Sharing notes makes partnering easier. Many adults help parents, children, and others facing medical issues. People who read their notes say the notes make it easier to share health information with family members and others.

Information is power. More than 9 out of 10 people report understanding their notes. Open notes also build trust between patients and their healthcare team.

Having access to and looking at your medical information helps you ask better questions. Research also shows that people who read notes can identify mistakes in their records and help make sure the records are accurate. How To Use Open Notes – Your Guide to the World of Open Notes

Read your notes after a visit and refer to them in between visits. Often, the notes contain things you forget. They may remind you about important plans, medications, tests, or other next steps. When you review your note, make sure the information is accurate and up to date. Let your healthcare team know if there’s a problem you feel is important. Check to make sure the medications you are taking are named correctly in your notes. And make sure the medications match your name and describe how much you take and how often.

Read your notes between visits if you need to remind yourself about your treatment plan. Reading your notes can remind you of upcoming procedures, tests, and appointments.

Use your note to make a “to do” list for yourself. Bring it to your next visit.

You might share your note with family, care partners, or others involved in your care. It’s important to have your entire care team on the same page.

Before your next visit, read your note to remind yourself about your last conversation with your doctor or nurse. Ask yourself, “What has happened since I last saw my doctor? What are my two or three most important goals or questions for this visit?”

How to get the most out of your notes: FAQs for patients

Online Therapy: Artifically Intelligent Chatbots

The Therapy Apps Trying To Help You Deal While You’re On The NHS Waiting List

Mental health problems are on the rise, with some people in the UK having to wait for up to two years to receive therapeutic treatment.

With many being forced to take matters into their own hands, therapy apps could help provide those in need with a cheap and effective short-term alternative. Some of these apps have been around for a while, but there is also a growing number of artificially intelligent (AI) breeds that provide an increasingly personalized and emotional response, and they're on a mission to democratize therapy.

The use of A.I. may alleviate some waiting people by offering an immediate therapeutic chat session on the subject of their concern(s).

Democratizing therapy means "radical accessibility," says Dr. Alison Darcy, clinical research psychologist and founder of Woebot, an artificially intelligent chatbot grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Dr. Darcy told me Woebot’s goal is to break down "common barriers" to seeking mental health support, such as stigma or lack of financial resources. AI can offer quick and efficient progress across these barriers, making good mental health practices "easy  for everyone" 

Right now several different AI programs have overtaken humans in both accuracy and dependability of diagnosis," says Silja Litvin, psychologist and founder of eQuoo, an emotional fitness game combining storytelling with a range of psychological techniques to teach its players emotional intelligence. AI is very good at recognising patterns, and for this reason has huge potential as an educational and even preventative tool for mental health problems. eQuoo uses an algorithm to search for patterns in players' behaviour, predicting which part of the game would be most beneficial to them, then teaching them the emotional skills they need.

Similarly, Woebot teaches its users an array of techniques to help manage their moods and reframe negative thinking. Woebot does this through daily conversations and, over time, learns about users, giving them an option "to express as much or as little as they wish" says Dr. Darcy. The app then uses a series of decision trees to identify a user’s mood, helping them to recognize their own negative thought patterns. Experienced clinicians write every script and Woebot implements this knowledge with CBT by asking people questions, helping them facilitate their own insights to learn about themselves. Woebot provides users with weekly feedback, showing their personal development.

Replika. 

Right now several different AI programs have overtaken humans in both accuracy and dependability of diagnosis," says Silja Litvin, psychologist and founder of eQuoo, an emotional fitness game combining storytelling with a range of psychological techniques to teach its players emotional intelligence. AI is very good at recognizing patterns, and for this reason, has huge potential as an educational and even preventative tool for mental health problems. eQuoo uses an algorithm to search for patterns in players' behavior, predicting which part of the game would be most beneficial to them, and then teaching them the emotional skills they need.

Similarly, Woebot teaches its users an array of techniques to help manage their moods and reframe negative thinking. Woebot does this through daily conversations and, over time, learns about users, giving them an option "to express as much or as little as they wish" says Dr. Darcy. The app then uses a series of decision trees to identify a user’s mood, helping them to recognize their own negative thought patterns. Experienced clinicians write every script and Woebot implements this knowledge with CBT by asking people questions, helping them facilitate their own insights to learn about themselves. Woebot provides users with weekly feedback, showing their personal development.

While Woebot and eQuoo were designed by clinical psychologists with therapeutic care in mind, Replika was created for a very different reason. In 2015, Replika cofounder Eugenia Kuyda’s best friend Roman died. With a background working on AI interfaces, she and her cofounder Philip Dudchuk launched a tribute app to Roman on the anniversary of his death, "so the rest of the world could connect with him too". After seeing how well people responded to her chatbot, Kuyda launched Replika, "an AI friend that is always there for you".

Online Therapy: Artificially Intelligent Chatbots