Unlocking New Possibilities: How Neuro Connections Helps Older Adults Regain Arm Function and Confidence Post-Stroke

Understanding Stroke-Related Arm Weakness and Coordination Challenges

Stroke can cause significant arm weakness and coordination issues, affecting daily activities and overall independence for older adults. Around 80% of people have arm weakness or coordination issues after a stroke. When your arm doesn’t move the way you want it to, even the simplest tasks become difficult. Brushing your teeth can start to feel overwhelming. Trying to sign your name may stop you in your tracks. Although these tasks can be frustrating, the good news is there is hope, and it doesn’t involve figuring it all out on your own.  

How Occupational Therapy Supports Recovery After a Stroke

Occupational therapy is key to restoring strength and coordination after a stroke, helping patients return to their prior level of functioning. The goal of occupational therapy is to help you get back to the tasks that are most important to you. Whether that is cooking your favorite recipe, getting dressed, or getting back to driving, occupational therapy is here to help. In occupational therapy we help identify your strengths, challenges, and focus on ways to get you back to what is most important to you. This may include specific exercises, using equipment or modifying how you do things until your arm gets stronger. We are experts in looking at the tasks that are most important to you, figuring out what is most challenging and problem solving with you to be your best self.

Tailored Neuro Therapy at Neuro Connections in Madison, WI

At Neuro Connections, our personalized therapy programs are specifically designed for older adults who are looking to regain their arm function and independence. We use research backed interventions to help you get back movement as early as possible. Research shows us the best way to get movement back in your arm is by doing things that are relevant to you. Sick of going to therapy just to put pegs in holes or repeating the same exercises over and over again hoping it helps? At Neuro Connections we focus YOUR goals and being in YOUR home helps us to use the most important things to you in therapy. We want to be your partner in recovery. Having open communication about your goals and opinions is important to us. We are available for questions or concerns throughout your recovery to help you feel more in charge of your rehabilitation.

The Importance of Continued Intervention in Stroke Rehabilitation

Starting occupational therapy soon after a stroke can dramatically improve outcomes, giving patients the best chance to regain strength and coordination. Although arm recovery can happen for a long time after a stroke, research says the most important time for intensive therapy to help your arm move is 60-90 days after your stroke. At this point, most people are discharged from intensive therapy programs, such as inpatient rehabilitation. Although early therapy can be extremely beneficial, but rehab for your arm may continue beyond this period. There are optimal times for intensive therapy, but that does not mean you can’t continue to progress outside of this timeframe. Stroke recovery can continue months or years after a stroke.

When considering rehab for your arm after a stroke, one thing you need to keep in mind is the importance of repetition. Typically, exercises involve 10-20 repetitions. When we look at improving strength and coordination after a stroke we need many more repetitions of an exercise. We are looking to make changes in the brain, not just strengthening a muscle. This may mean doing hundreds of repetitions for some movements to gain more control. This is another reason why having a variety of options can be important to help you get back the movement you want.

One question we regularly get is: I feel like my leg is doing better than my arm, is that normal? Does that mean my arm won’t get better?

YES, THIS IS NORMAL! For many people their leg will recover faster than their arm (although not always, it depends on your specific stroke). There are multiple reasons for this.

1.     The muscles in your leg are much larger than the muscles in your arm. Large muscles have a lot of connections between the brain and the muscle, making it easier for your brain to ‘find’ these muscles.

2.     Most people want their hands to do more tasks than their toes. When was the last time you used your toes to write something? Probably never. We have complex needs for using our hands. There is a large area in your brain associated with just your hand, meaning it is frequently impacted after a stroke.

3.   One of the most common stroke locations is an MCA. With an MCA stroke, the area that controls hand movement is in the center. This means that area tends to be the most impacted.

Techniques We Use to Improve Arm Strength and Coordination

Our occupational therapists use evidence-based techniques, such as task-specific training and motor relearning, to help stroke survivors restore arm function. There is no one size fits all recovery for stroke. At Neuro Connections we understand a combination of approaches is the best way to get you back to the tasks that are most important to you.

Some techniques we may use in therapy sessions include:

-Practice the tasks that are most important to YOU

Our brain pays attention to things it finds important. By incorporating meaningful tasks and items into our therapy session, it helps your brain make connections and improve coordination. Did you play an instrument prior to your stroke? Were you an avid euchre player? We will use what you find most important to help your brain make new connections and communicate better with your arm. We help you use the movement you have now and help progress you back to your card club with your friends.

-Mirror Therapy

One strategy to help with arm recovery is tricking your brain into thinking your arm is moving. If your brain sees your arm moving, it helps make connections in your brain. One way we set this up is using a mirror to cover up your arm that isn’t moving as well and putting your other arm outside of the mirror. You look into the mirror while moving your stronger arm, and trying to move the weaker one in the same way. This activates areas in your brain that control your weaker arm (Isn’t your brain amazing?!). Through increasing the complexity of movements your weaker arm can gain strength and coordination back.

One key with mirror therapy is not to “peek” behind the mirror. It can be tempting to see how much your other hand is moving, but your brain needs to believe it is looking at your weaker arm in the mirror.

-Motor Imagery

Remember how I mentioned your brain can do amazing things? Motor imagery is another example of this. Even imagining that arm moving can activate areas in your brain connected with movement of your arm. Start by moving your stronger arm. Close your eyes and really “feel” what it feels like to move that arm. How does it feel when you lift your arm? How does it feel when you tap your finger? Now imagine your weaker arm doing these motions. Imagine what it “feels” like to have that arm move in the same way. This can work well for people who have less motion

-Electrical Stimulation

Did you know your muscles use a type of electricity to activate? In therapy, we can use electrical stimulation devices to help activate muscles. This is typically done by putting pads on your skin above specific muscles and attaching it to a device that produces a precise electrical current to help your arm move. Sound scary to have electricity applied to your body? We start with very low intensity and increase as you feel comfortable. Most people describe the feeling as numb or tingly, similar to when your arm falls asleep.

If you are considering electrical stimulation, please clear it with a medical professional (your doctor or PT/OT) as there are certain situations where it is not appropriate.

These are a few examples of tasks we may do in therapy, but we want to be your partner in your recovery. If something sounds interesting or not for you, that is okay! There are many approaches to helping with arm recovery after a stroke.  

Taking the Next Step: How to Start Your Therapy Journey at Neuro Connections

If you or a loved one is experiencing arm weakness after a stroke, our team at Neuro Connections is here to guide you every step of the way. We provide in-home occupational therapy services. By providing therapy in your home we are able to problem solve in the moment and set up ways for you to continue improving your coordination and strength outside of therapy sessions. We know you need therapy to help you understand your strengths and challenges and have a customized plan for how to reach your goals. Don’t spend another day googling “arm exercises for stroke” or “how long until my arm gets better”. You deserve customized therapy to help you get back to feeling like yourself again.

We know traveling to a therapy clinic multiple times a week can be exhausting. Getting ready to go, scheduling rides, coordinating different therapy appointments and just being in the car can be overwhelming for many people. We aim to make things easier for you and your loved ones, reducing many of the challenges associated with getting to the clinic.

Frustrated with long wait lists? Feel like you are trying to figure out how to help your arm get better on your own? You don’t even want to think about how you are going to get to ANOTHER appointment this week? If you are ready to experience a different approach to therapy, contact us to schedule a no obligation phone call to talk about your specific situation.