Saturdays News - Device for the Leg and Device for the Hand

YouTube: Device for the Leg and Device for the Hand.
For the Leg:



The NESS L300 is an advanced foot drop system designed to use mild stimulation to lift your foot to help you walk more safely and easily. If the NESS L300 is right for you, it may be easier to walk on flat ground, up and down stairs, as well as on uneven surfaces. This light-weight device is designed to fit just below your knee and to be put on and taken off with one hand. Use of the NESS L300 may eliminate the need to wear a rigid, heavy orthosis.

See also Bioness LiveOn ; they have details of the product and short but useful video.


For the Hand:




The Bioness H200 Hand Rehabilitation System is being used on stroke survivor's arm to cause his hand to open and grasp various type of object. Hopefully it will stimulate the brain to create new pathways to the nerves in his hand and fingers.  (Comments from SSTattler Admin -- H200 the first device to use the thumb -- very useful!).

See also Bioness LiveOn ; they have details of the product and short but useful video.

Saturday Comics - February 25th / 2012

For Better and For Worse  by Lynn Johnston /2006-10-18

(This a serious topic of stroke but with a very nice cartoons. It is all about Grandpa Jim had a stroke and 88 further cartoon "strips" that happened to Grandpa Jim [8 of the series stroke of 88 -- every week])

Click Me!

 "He has trouble speaking but ... "   

Dilbert               by Scott Adams / 2012-02-21

(Pick The Best Of The Week for your good humour)

Click Me!

"I found the Higgs Boson ... !"

Garfield            by Jim Davis / 2012-02-24
(Pick The Best Of The Week for your good humour)

Click Me!

"Here is your roll, sir."

Pickles                 by Brian Crane / 2012-02-20

(Pick The Best Of The Week for your good humour)

Click Me!

"Keep your feet firmly planted on the ground."

* I tried to get low or free price at the people http://www.UniversalUclick.com/ for the images for the cartoons.  It was too high for Stroke Survivors Tattler i.e. we are not a regular newspaper and our budget is very low.  Fortunately, you will have to do only 1-click more to see the cartoon image, it is legit and it is free using  GoComics.com and Dilbert.com.

Saturday News Articles - February 25th / 2012

Smartphone Training Helps People With Memory Impairment Regain Independence.

Toronto, Canada – The treatment for moderate-to-severe memory impairment could one day include a prescription for a smartphone.

Baycrest has published the strongest evidence yet that a smartphone training program, theory-driven and specifically designed for individuals with memory impairment, can result in "robust" improvements in day-to-day functioning, and boost independence and confidence levels.

The promising results appear online this week, ahead of print publication, in the international journal Neuropsychological Rehabilitation ....

Read the full article EurekAlert!

SRAE Meeting Feb 27th at 6:30 PM

Leg Cramps

Leg cramps are a common problem. In patients living at home, half (50%) of the people reported they had leg cramps (365 patients, 65 years of age and over, mean 78.5 years).  Leg cramps were more common for women (56%) than men (40%). Leg cramps were strongly associated with peripheral vascular disease and arthritis (Abdulla, Jones, & Pearce, 1999).

     Although people reported that leg cramps occurred anytime of over the 24 hour day, cramps were most prevalent at night (62%). About 20% of people reported that they had suffered from leg cramps for over 10 years.  Leg cramps may be associated with a wide range of underlying conditions, many of which are treatable (Monder, Wu, Thorpy, 2010). Surprisingly, only (40%) of leg cramps sufferers told their doctor; and of these, just over half received treatment (53%).  In this study, most people who received treatment said that treatment prescribed by their doctor was effective.

     Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about your leg cramps -- immediately if there is redness, bruising, or swelling.

If there is no obvious cause, your doctor or nurse practitioner may recommend:

• walking, stretching, and massage -- Calf stretching performed daily may prevent nighttime cramps from occurring--One uncontrolled study suggested that regularly stretching calves of legs done  three times per day was highly effective in curing nighttime cramps. However, amore recent controlled study showed that calf stretching was not an effective method.  So, if you try it and it doesn’t work, all you lost was your time.
• raising the head of the bed or raising your feet on pillows is sometimes recommended  although neither of these methods has been evaluated formally.

Your doctor or nurse practitioner may also recommend pharmacologic treatments.  There are many that have been studied for night-time leg cramps:  quinine, magnesium, calcium channel blockers, sympathetic inhibitors, vitamin E, vitamin B complex, and antiepileptic medications (Monder, Wu, Thorpy, 2010).
  
You need to discuss any medication use — including vitamins, herbal remedies, and over-the-counter medications with your doctor or nurse practitioner.

Link to most recent article on leg cramps:

• Monderer, R.S., Wu, W.P., Thorpy, M.J. (2010).  Nocturnal Leg Cramps. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports ,  10 (1), 53-9.
• Additional reference: Abdulla, A.J., Jones, P.W., & Pearce, V.R.  (1999). Leg cramps in the elderly: prevalence, drug and disease associations. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 53 (7), 494-6.

---------

Saturdays News - Moya Moya Disease

Moya Moya Disease

My buddy Aki has Moya Moya disease, and this video helps to explain it.
See also www.moyamoya.com.

Here is another example about Moya Moya in Edmonton

(copied from SRAE Newsletter May/2011) 

Akira Peters:

     "I like GPS -- it gives me direction when I'm driving"

When Akira had a hemorrhagic stroke in June 2008,everyone was shocked! How could a young, lively university student have a stroke? Akira was active and fun. All though school she won awards, and now just as Akira was all set to begin her final year of a Combined Honours degree in English and History, St. Thomas More College of the University of Saskatchewan she had a stroke. The cause of her stroke was an arterial malformation which was originally diagnosed as brain syndrome Moyamoya.

After many months of recovery at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton, Akira went on to help other brain injury survivors. She volunteered at Networks Activity Centre (Edmonton). Her good sense of humour and willingness to help others, as well as her perseverance, were recognised by two awards: the GlenmoreAward of Courage and a Brain Injury Association Bursary.

Akira always wanted to be a teacher. Some people thought she would never be able to complete university after a large stroke, but others like Glenrose social worker, Patrick Hirschi were encouraging.

On May 28th, 2010, Akira graduated from the University of Saskatchewan and was honoured with the award for the graduating student with the highest marks in history by St. Thomas Moore college. In 2012, Akira will once again put on graduation robes from the University of Alberta Faculty of Education. She will reach her next goal — teacher.

Read about Akira’s Awards on the web:

• Glenrose Award of Courage
• University of Saskatchewan History Award
• Veteran's Affairs Story Award

Akira’s suggestions for ― Putting the  Possibility in Stroke Disability:

• The best thing I can say about putting the possibility into stroke disability  is actually ripped off Nike.. "Just do it."
• The most important resource after stroke is also a group of the most fun,  inspirational and amazing people I've ever encountered... other stroke  survivors.

Saturday Comics - February 18th / 2012

For Better and For Worse  by Lynn Johnston /2006-10-06

(This a serious topic of stroke but with a very nice cartoons. It is all about Grandpa Jim had a stroke and 88 further cartoon "strips" that happened to Grandpa Jim [7 of the series stroke of 88 -- every week])

Click Me!

 "... before they know how much damage was done. "   

Dilbert               by Scott Adams / 2012-02-12

(Pick The Best Of The Week for your good humour)

Click Me!

"May I close your ticket now?"

Garfield            by Jim Davis / 2012-02-14

(Pick The Best Of The Week for your good humour)

Click Me!

"About thirty seconds ago."

Pickles                 by Brian Crane / 2012-02-17

(Pick The Best Of The Week for your good humour)

Click Me!

"Do you think it might be skin cancer?"

* I tried to get low or free price at the people http://www.UniversalUclick.com/ for the images for the cartoons.  It was too high for Stroke Survivors Tattler i.e. we are not a regular newspaper and our budget is very low.  Fortunately, you will have to do only 1-click more to see the cartoon image, it is legit and it is free using  GoComics.com and Dilbert.com.

Saturday News Articles - February 18th / 2012

Life After Stroke Website

The Canadian Stroke Network has launched a new website called Life After Stroke.   Modeled after our popular workbook, "Getting on with the Rest of your Life After Stroke", the website offers many resources for stroke patients and their families. It includes online versions CSN stroke resources, a guide for creating a stroke support group, a forum to share challenges and successes, and much more.

Life After Stroke was specially designed with accessibility in mind. It is equipped with eSSENTIAL Accessibility™, a technology that makes browsing the web easier for people who have trouble moving a mouse, typing or reading a screen. 

Please link Life After Stroke on your website to inform stroke patients in your community about this online resource. 

Feel free to contact me at sarah@canadianstrokenetwork.ca or (613) 562-5800 ext. 5235 if you have any questions or comments regarding the website. 

Sincerely, 

Sarah Stewart 
Canadian Stroke Network 
Communications Officer
www.lifeafterstroke.ca 

BRIANwaves February 2012

BRIANwaves (Remue-MÉNINGES)

See BRIANwaves February 2012 (Issue 118).

In This Issue -- February 2012:

New this month:

• The Canadian Stroke Network's monthly newsletter, BRAINwaves, has moved to a blog format. Readers have the opportunity to make comments and to start discussion. Let us know what you think!
• Canadian Stroke Congress: Abstract submission open Feb. 13
• CSN to develop tools for online professional development in stroke
• Canadian Stroke Network Travel Awards
• Canada lends expertise to development of stroke registry in China
• iScore a valuable tool for clinicians, stroke conference told

... and more

Visit: canadianstrokenetwork.ca/csnblog

---------

Saturdays News - What Is The Single Best Thing We Can Do For Our Health

What Is The Single Best Thing We Can Do For Our  Health

      A Doctor-Professor answers the old question "What is the single best thing we can do for our  health" in a completely new way.   Dr. Mike Evans is founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a staff physician at St. Michael's Hospital.
http://twitter.com/docmikeevans
http://www.facebook.com/docmikeevans

Interview with Dr. Michael Evans

     NXNE Interactive speaker Dr. Michael Evans is a leading light in "patient engagement", which is attempting to fuse the way we deliver health care with the new (and old) ways we personally solve our health problems. He is Director and founder of the Health Design Lab, which is redefining "interdisciplinary" in medicine by bringing together filmmakers, patients, technologists, designers, and marketers and combining them with clinicians and researchers to illuminate new pathways for evidence-based decisions. He is an inner city physician at St Michael's hospital, a scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, and an Associate Professor in Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto. 

Dr. Evans is most interested in how quality information gets dispersed. Whether through traditional means as Chief Editor of the top selling Canadian primary care textbook of medicine or his columns in the Globe & Mail, to more innovative mediums such as founding of the Mini Med School for the public at the University of Toronto, his "Evidence-Based Radio" program on CBC's Fresh Air, digital storytelling series "The Truth of It" for those immersed in the cancer journey, or "The Adventures of Medical Man" his recently released kids book.