Freedom in Function, LLC

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a common occurrence following a stroke. When dysphagia leads to aspiration - food or drink entering the lungs - health problems such as pneumonia can develop. A few basic methods to help with safe swallowing include sitting upright when swallowing, taking small bites and sips, and eating slowly.

Visual neglect and various other visual conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy can make completing daily tasks more arduous. This graphic shows various strategies and techniques to implement when living with low vision/visual challenges in hopes of increasing independence and functionality.

American Stroke Foundation The ASF empowers stroke survivors and their families to overcome the challenges of life after stroke.

The road of rehab after a stroke has ups and downs. Some days may be better than other days. You need to remember that some days will be hard, but that does not mean you are being setback. The recovery is a process to work through and to continue to push forward.

Don’t compare yourself to others. Every journey is unique and different.

Have you tried mirror therapy? What did you think about it?

In our brain we all have special neurons called “mirror neurons.” These neurons will mirror actions they see and can help develop new functions and lead to an improvement in occupational performance. After a stroke, function is lost because of damage to the brain, so these mirror neurons can help regain function. This can be done by watching other people complete an activity or using a mirror to have the non-affected side complete an activity to help the affected side mirror those movements of the unaffected side. Because of the ability for our brain to change, these mirror neurons help improve function and occupational performance. Doing exercises in front of a mirror can help train the affected side as you focus on the movements of the unaffected side!

Today is the last day of our three post series talking about the location of strokes and how they typically present in their effects.

Today’s graphic shows the common effects seen in CEREBELLUM strokes.

I hope you have enjoyed learning about the different effects of strokes based on the location of them and the structures that are damaged in the brain.

Since we learned about the left hemisphere stroke effects yesterday, today our graphic shows the effects of RIGHT HEMISPHERE strokes. These are common effects that are seen in some patients, but not all because every patient presents differently.

Strokes, like most things, affect each person differently. Factors like age, weight, and current health status contribute to the effects of the stroke. Most importantly though is the location of the stroke leading to damage of different structures.

This post is the first of three discussing the effects of each of the three main areas we see strokes happen.

Today, this graphic shows the common effects seen with a LEFT HEMISPHERE stroke. Tomorrow we will have information about right hemisphere strokes and the day after we will discuss cerebellar strokes.

🚨✨ NEW VIDEO ALERT

4 Game-Changing Principles for Stroke Recovery!

4 Game-Changing Principles to Stroke Recovery! In this video, I discuss what neuroplasticity is and how understanding 4 key principles can make a big difference in your stroke recovery journey!10 Key Prin...

Do you or someone you know suffer from chronic pain after a stroke?

Our guided meditation may help! May it provide you with a safe place to manage and deal with your pain. ❤️

A Safe Place to Deal With Pain [Guided Meditation] | Stroke Recovery Benefits: Here are but a few benefits that meditation brings you in your journey towards success: -Enhance your learning and memory retention.-Put a stop to ...