Saturday News

Contents of This Week Saturday News June 6th / 2015

• Definition: Bicycle Sharing System or Repair Yourself or...

      A bicycle sharing system, public bicycle system, or bike share scheme, is a service in which bicycles are made available for shared use to individuals on a very short term basis. Bike share schemes allow people to borrow a bike from point "A" and return it at point "B". Many bike-share systems offer subscriptions that make the first 30–45 minutes of use very inexpensive, encouraging use as transportation.  A longer definition comes from Wikipedia.

• Video: Bicycle Sharing System or Repair Yourself or...

               -- About BikeWorks - Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society
               -- Cycling Community
               -- BikeWorks South Shop Preview Tour
               -- Edmonton Spring Bake and Bike Sale 2013
               -- EBC Sweeps 100 Ave Bike Lane
               -- Bikes at the ESO
               -- Alberta Primetime - Riding with Style: Bike to the Symphony 2011
               -- Alberta Prime Time - The Spoke
               -- Demo Bus Bike Rack (Edmonton)
               -- Bike-Powered Blender
               -- City of Edmonton Bike Mob
               -- Sustainable Transportation Winter Cycling
               -- CLTRS Mundi - Canadá (1/2)
               -- CLTRS Mundi - Canadá (2/2)                  

• Headline Blog: Bicycle Sharing System or Repair Yourself or...
• First Row of the Season
• Imagination Rehab
• Feeling Normal
• Bike Rodeo
• Stimulate Stroke Recovery Through Exercise
• Physical Exercise Effects on Brain EEG
• Problems with Goals

• Eclectic Stuff: Many articles from many Guest Bloggers about Stroke
• Sas Has Not Been Very Well - Blog by Nick
• C'mon Baby...
• Advice
• Smart Phones and Stroke, Part 1
• Cholesterol and Risk - Drugs Might Help You Prevent a Stroke
• Michael Lynagh: Supports Stroke Association Back to Work Project
• PEI Community Focus Group hosted by Heart and Stroke

• Weekly Columnists
• Musing: The Backwards Bicycle Will Break Your Brain
• Sunday Stroke Survival: Recumbent Bikes
• Caregiver: Grieving
• Tadpole Update: Reported To June 6th
• Jester: Embarrassing Medical Exams
• TED Talks - Sanjay Dastoor: A Skateboard, With a Boost
• Rick Mercer Report: Rick and Zip Lining
• Laid-Back Admin: Twitter, Tweets, Following, ...

• Daily Comics: For Better Or For Worse, Dilbert, Mayes, Doonesbury

• Future Topics in SSTattler

Saturday News | Future Topic
--------------+----------------------------------------------
Jun/13/2015   | Sexuality and Disability
Jun/20/2015   | Cavernous Hemangioma(Cavernous Angioma or...)
Jun/27/2015   | Solitude
Jul-Aug/2015  | Summer Break 2015 (articles ordered by date)

Definition: Bicycle Sharing System or Repair Yourself or...

Bicycle Sharing System From Wikipedia,
         the free encyclopedia

The Vélib' in Paris is the largest
bikesharing system outside of China

A bicycle sharing system, public bicycle system, or bike share scheme, is a service in which bicycles are made available for shared use to individuals on a very short term basis. Bike share schemes allow people to borrow a bike from point "A" and return it at point "B". Many bike-share systems offer subscriptions that make the first 30–45 minutes of use very inexpensive, encouraging use as transportation. This allows each bike to serve several users per day. In most bike-share cities, casual riding over several hours or days is better served by bicycle rental than by bike-share. For many systems, smartphone mapping apps show nearby stations with available bikes and open docks.

The Hangzhou Public Bicycle programme in China,
the second largest bicycle sharing system in the world

Bike-share began in Europe in 1965, and a viable format emerged in the mid-2000s thanks to the introduction of information technology. As of June 2014, public bikesharing systems were available on five continents, including 712 cities, operating approximately 806,200 bicycles at 37,500 stations. As of May 2011, the Wuhan and Hangzhou Public Bicycle bike-share systems in China were the largest in the world, with around 90,000 and 60,000 bicycles respectively. The Vélib' in Paris bicycle stations, is the largest outside of China. The countries with the most systems are Spain (132), Italy (104), and China (79). As of July 2013, the systems with the higher market penetration are both operating in France, the Parisian Velib' with 1 bike per 97 inhabitants and Vélo'v in Lyon with 1 bike per 121 residents.

Video: Bicycle Sharing System or Repair Yourself or...

SSTattler: 

1. Edmonton tried Bicycle Sharing System (2005 to 2008 operated by the Peoples' Pedal organization) and it failed! - they have to try it again (maybe try with Bixi)! BTW, for years they have a great  Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society and BikeWorks!
2. Europe has a great Bicycle Sharing System; USA is second after Europe - lots of bike cities; Canada is just started with (Bixi) Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto, (Sobi) Hamilton - more coming!
3. I used, mostly, examples of Edmonton Bicycle Commuter's Society but all the cities have the very similar bike cities.

About BikeWorks - Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society

Published on Nov 13, 2013

We've signed a lease for a new location at 8001 102 St. We are in great need of funds to help pay for this relocation. Help us open the newest incarnation of the oldest community bike shop in North America.

Perks of donating include free shop time, private 1-on-1 courses, bike lights, and more.

• Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society with BikeWorks,
• Contribute today by visiting Opening a new BikeWorks South.

BikeWorks North and BikeWorks South are fully-equipped, volunteer-run community bike workshops. We have all the tools (including specialty bicycle tools) needed to repair and maintain your bicycle, and mechanics to teach you how to do it. We also have a vast selection of used and new parts and bicycles available for purchase.

Standard YouTube License @ Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society

Headline Blog: Bicycle Sharing System or Repair Yourself or...

Definition: Blog (noun). Add new material to or regularly update to a blog. (Origin 1990s: blog shortening of weblog)

First Row of the Season

Barb Polan
Barb’s Recovery

Posted 25th July 2011

After waiting patiently to figure out when, based on the boat's and other rowers' schedules, the day of my first row this season was yesterday.

Although it was reasonably successful and fun, it was not the emotional trip it was last year.

My new splint had a couple of the same problems my old splint did: Tom had to place his hand over mine and the splint (which means I cannot go without him) because it kept popping off the oar and a spot on the splint wore into my wrist (which just means I need a little more padding there).

Getting into and out of the boat was easier than last summer - like last year, I wore my AFO to minimize the risk while climbing in and out. To get in, I crouched down on my haunches to sit on the gunwale, which was at the same height as the floating dock, then pivoted so that my legs went in. To get out, I again sat on the gunwale/dock and swung my legs to the dock. I went from sitting on the dock to on my hand (right) and knees on the dock and then took another rower's hand to straighten my legs and stand.

It was the first post-stroke time I had gotten into and out of the gig without my friend Bart's assistance. Another rower noticed that too, saying," Yes, I looked around for Bart and, when I saw he wasn't here, said, "Shit.'" So she stepped in and helped as Bart has always done - supervising the process and providing physical and emotional support when needed. Plus, she was capable of catching me at any point if I'd fallen.

Imagination Rehab

Grace Carpenter
My Happy Stroke

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The are many things I can't do since the stroke. For instance, I know that riding a bicycle is out of the question. At least for now. My lack of proprioception, sensation, balance issues, and general right-side weakness are a few of the reasons. And it doesn't help that we live on a very hilly neighborhood. I haven't even had the desire to try.

About two months ago, we were driving on level ground, on a road with a bike lane. There was a bicyclist a few yards ahead of us, and from the car window, I had a great view of the bicyclist pedaling. The traffic was moving slowly. I watched him biking for several minutes. Suddenly, I remembered what it felt like to be on a bicycle: the wind, the noise of cars going by, the pedaling, the gliding, my own breath and the pumping of my heart. I had forgotten.

Sometimes I feel the stroke robbed me--temporarily--of parts of my imagination. Until something jogs my memory, my body can't conceive of some of things I used to do. And how I did them.

But little by little, my imagination is coming back.

See the original article:

Imagination Rehab

in

My Happy Stroke

Feeling Normal

Robin
Rocky Mountain Stroke Survivor

Posted on August 23, 2013

SSTattler: Re-published Saturday, April 25, 2015 Feeling Normal in Stroke Survivors Tattler.

I meant to write about Stroke Camp first and this experience at Stroke Camp second, but you’re getting it out of order. It took me over a week to recover from camp and just as I was feeling myself again, we all got sick. So here we are weeks out without any posts. Maybe I’ll write my next one on how long it takes to bounce back from illnesses or vacations…

Ever since my stroke, I have lived in a continual carnival.

Because my stroke is cerebellar, I am constantly playing games of coordination, speed, dexterity to just get through normal activities. Reaching for something and picking it up is as challenging as one of those arcade games with the arm that you use to pick up a stuffed animal and drop it down a chute.

As I complete each task, I walk to the next along rigged paths that sway, rock, and jolt unexpectedly.  The only place to sit down to rest is on the tilt-a-whirl.  To eat lunch, I sit at a table that jiggles constantly.  As my food bounces around, I have to reach out to catch each french fry…the fries jiggle around in the basket that is jiggling around its area on the table as my arm is being jiggled by the bouncing and shifting of my seat.

Bike Rodeo

Published on Sep 27, 2013

For more information, please visit:

• Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society
• You Can Ride Two

We work with children, youth and adults to make cycling accessible for everyone, because we believe that making Edmonton better for bicycling improves our city's quality of life.

Whether riding a few times a week, 265 bike-friendly days a year, or year-round, the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society (EBC) provides the tools Edmontonians need to enjoy cycling. Established as a non-profit society in 1980, EBC operates two volunteer-run community bike workshops, provides training for children, youth and adults, hosts events during Bike Month and all year-round, and represents Edmonton cyclists at City Hall.

Learn how to fix your bike and ride in traffic. Buy a refurbished bike, or donate a disused one. Meet other cyclists, and help us advocate for a bike-friendly city.


View Attributions @ Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society

Stimulate Stroke Recovery Through Exercise

Ramon Florendo
Life after a "STROKE"

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Stimulate stroke recovery through exercise: by increasing Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor.

BDNF , of Brain Derive Neurotrophic Factor, is a neurotrophic factor (or protein) in the brain that is instrumental in the growth of new neurons and new neural synapses. Moderate exercise has been shown to stimulate increased production of this chemical in the brain, which would in turn create a more optimal environment for neuroplasticity to work it’s magic!

How much exercise is “moderate exercise?” great question! It’s very difficult to judge how intensely a person is exercising (even for a physical therapist, who does that for a living!)…but one fairly easy way is to monitor your heart rate and keep it within a certain training range. A commonly used range for moderate intensity exercise is about 70-80% of your maximum heart rate. So first you calculate your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from the number 220. (for example, if you are 50 years old, your maximum heart rate would be 170) Then you calculated 70-80% of this maximum heart rate (if you are still 50, then your 70-80% of max heart rate range would be 119 to 136). Keep in mind that after a stroke, EVERYTHING takes more energy! So any from of activity or exercise could elevate your heart rate more than it would elevate the heart rate of somebody who hasn’t had a stroke.

Perhaps I should back up for a minute and explain how to calculate your heart rate. Get a heart rate monitor. There. done. OR you could do it the old-school way by finding your pulse on the side of your neck (under your jaw, about halfway between your ear and your chin), or on your wrist (on the palm side, closer to your thumb than your pinkie). Use a light pressure with your first two fingers to feel the pulse, and simply count the beats for a minute (or count them for 15 seconds and multiply by four).

Physical Exercise Effects on Brain EEG

Bill Yates
Brain Posts

Posted 17th March

There are a variety of methods to study the effects on exercise on brain function.

Brain imaging techniques such as fMRI provides a new tool to search for regional effects of acute and chronic exercise.

Another tool that has received less attention is the electroencephalogram or EEG. One EEG measure of brain function is the individual alpha peak frequency or iAPF.

The iAPF is positively correlated with arousal, attention and speed of information processing. Higher iAPF is linked to faster speed of information processing.

Boris Gutmann and colleagues from the German Sport University Cologne recently published a study of the effects on acute and chronic exercise on iAPF.

Here are the key elements in the design of their study:

• Subjects: Ten males average age 22 who were regular participants in exercise but not highly trained endurance athletes
• Exercise: Time1- iAPF before and after exhaustive exercise and before and after steady state. Time2-iAPF before and after exhaustive exercise and before and after steady state. Time 1 and Time 2 exercise sessions were separated by four weeks that included steady state aerobic exercise training

The key findings from the study were:

• iAPF was increased after exhaustive exercise but not following steady state exercise
• This effect occurred both at time 1 and time 2 suggesting it was independent of training

Problems with Goals

Marcelle Greene
Up Stroke

Sunday, June 2, 2013

In January I set three goals to be finished by the end of June. I'm not going to achieve any of them.

The first goal was something I thought I should do but realized I didn't want to do. I crossed it off my list. The stroke has taught me not to waste time on things I don't want to do.

I put the second goal on hold because another project came along that is equally important, but more time sensitive. Pre-stroke my solution to having multiple projects was to try harder and work longer. Post-stroke I don't have the stamina. Deadlines are now guidelines; stuff comes up, priorities shift.

My third goal was to re-learn how to ride a bicycle in preparation for an upcoming trip. I added training wheels to my bike and practiced pedaling at the gym. I improved, but I'm not ready. I now realize there is nothing I could have done to get the result I wanted in the timeframe allotted.

Expecting to regain a particular function within a particular period of time goes against my experience of stroke recovery. Muscles heal only so fast. Nerves grow only so fast. It's important to have goals. They get me out of bed and into action. But I need to be smart about the goals I set. When my goal is specific, I need to avoid deadlines. When there is a deadline, I need to frame the goal broadly, allowing for a variety of solutions.

The better goal for me is: By the end of June, figure out how to join my fellow travelers as they cycle through the French countryside.

Oh yeah — and, some day, learn to ride a bike … if I really want to.

See the original article:

Problems with Goals

in

Up Stroke

Eclectic Stuff

Definition: Eclectic(noun) a person who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources

Sas Has Not Been Very Well - Blog by Nick

May 31, 2015

Sas

My partner Sas has not been very well – Sas had a Loop Recorder fitted in to her chest last Wednesday to monitor her heart but was then taken back in to hospital by ambulance on Friday with severe sickness and head a chest pains. She is improving with medication and is expected to be out of hospital by Tuesday, fingers crossed.

Sas has asked me to pass on her best wishes to all her friends and followers on twitter and through her blog, and assures them that she will be back soon.

Thank you for all your support, it means a lot and especially for helping her by supporting stroke and making May Purple.

See the original article:

Sas Has not Been Very Well - Blog by Nick

in

Sas Freeman

C'mon Baby...

Peter G. Levine
Stronger After Stroke

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Here is a flowchart used to guide recovery of walking after stroke...














Boy, that's complicated!

How do we learn how to walk in the first place- as infants? Does it involve "treatments" that span from "Task Specific Training" to orthotics?

Stroke recovery is hurt by complexity. When rehab options become too complicated the stroke survivor is separated from their own recovery because they don't know what to do.

Forget survivors for the moment... At some point stroke recovery can become so complicated that even clinicians don't understand it. Or they don't understand the technology in the complicated system because they never interface with that complicated technology.

Advice

Amy Shissler
My Cerebellar Stroke Recovery

May 19, 2015

I just spoke with a stroke survivor’s brother. This person sought me out and asked for my help and my advice. My advice was that for starters his sister needs to get into an intensive rehab program and begin a practice of daily meditation. This information was then given to his doctor who advised this family completely the opposite of my advice and said an intensive rehab program would be a waste of money.

Ok. Ok. Deep breaths. Who do you think you are you arrogant physician to advise your patient to NOT do what I advised?  Who do you think you are?  I am the one who had a massive stroke and recovered amazingly well,  NOT YOU.

It is so unbelievably, incredibly frustrating doing what I do for a job, having been through what I’ve been through, knowing what I know and feeling as if no one listens to me. The right people aren’t listening anyway. This doctor obviously doesn’t have her patient’s best interests at heart. As mine did not either. According to multiple doctors of mine, my recovery was going to end at around 2 years and my life was pretty much over. I was written off.

See the original article:

Advice

in

My Cerebellar Stroke Recovery

Smart Phones and Stroke, Part 1

Rebecca Dutton
Home After a Stroke

May 26, 2015

Part 1 is about how a stroke limits what I can do with a smart phone and how I feel about it.

I do not have to worry about falling while staring at my smart phone as I walk. My one good hand is busy controlling the cane I walk with due to my poor balance.


My sitting balance is not as good this guy on the boat. I do not have to worry about missing a whale because I cannot stop staring at my smart phone.

I use my one good hand to hold the spinner knob that controls the steering wheel. Letting go of the spinner knob to use my phone would be a new definition of hands-free driving.

Cholesterol and Risk - Drugs Might Help You Prevent a Stroke

Jeff Porter
Stroke of Faith

Thursday, May 28, 2015

More tools for lowering stroke risk - but let's make sure.

Check out the recent story how cholesterol drugs may lower stroke risk for healthy older adults:

The study found that when people took medications called statins or fibrates, their risk of stroke over almost a decade went down by about one-third. 

But, lead researcher Dr. Christophe Tzourio, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Bordeaux and Inserm in France, doesn't think older people should start taking these drugs solely for stroke prevention. 

Icons made by Freepik from
www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC BY 3.0

"Our results should not be interpreted as an indication for prescribing statins or fibrates to elderly individuals. We wouldn't recommend changing medications based on the results of only one study," he said. 

"The next step is to see whether we can replicate our findings or not," he added.

I'd second the doctor's notion of waiting. If you're a "healthy older adult," you might question the need of adding a drug that might have some unsettling side effects. Yet, if cholesterol numbers indicate a problem, be sure to work with your doctor to decrease your risk.

See the original article:

Cholesterol and Risk

-

Drugs Might Help You Prevent a Stroke

in

Stroke of Faith

Michael Lynagh: Supports Stroke Association Back to Work Project

Stroke Association UK

Published on May 28, 2015

In 2013, a year after his stroke, international rugby star Michael Lynagh ran the London Marathon with a team of colleagues from Sky to raise over £80,000 to set up the Stroke Association’s pilot Back to Work Project.

With the project now a year old, Michael visited the Back to Work Steering Group, a group of stroke survivors and carers who help plan and deliver the project. He spoke about his own experiences of stroke, the barriers he experienced on his journey back to work and how he overcame them. Watch our short video to hear Michael Lynagh share his experience of work and stroke.

To find out more about the Back to Work Project visit in The Back to Work After Stroke Service.


Standard YouTube License @ thestrokeassociation

PEI Community Focus Group hosted by Heart and Stroke

Gary Greg
PEI Stroke Recovery

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

The Heart and Stroke Foundation is hosting a Community Focus Group on June 12, 2015 as per the attached poster. Please try to attend if possible. This is a huge step in the right direction and they need our input to help identify the ways to improve supports and resources that can help you better manage your health (recovery).

See the original article:

PEI Community Focus Group hosted by Heart and Stroke

in

Prince Edward Island Stroke Recovery

Weekly Columnists

Definition: Columnist |ˈkäləmnist| (noun). A blogger or a journalist contributing regularly to a blog or newspaper