Saturday News Articles - March 24th / 2012

In-Home TeleRehabilitation Improves Hand Function

by Andy at Hometelemed | May 16, 2011 | ReJoyce, Scientific Study, Telerehabilitation

Hometelemed’s in-home telerehabilitation technology was the subject of a recently published scientific study. The article, published in the March 11, 2011 edition of the Journal of Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, showed exercise therapy supervised over the Internet may be effective for patients who have suffered a spinal cord injury.

The study combined Hometelemed’s telerehabilitation platform, the ReJoyce workstation, and an experimental toothclick-activated hand stimulator. A first treatment group received 6 weeks of daily at-home treatment using this apparatus, with a second group receiving conventional exercise therapy, also using the hometelemed telerehabilitation platform.

13 participants took part, 5 completing the study with both hands, such that both groups had a sample size of 9. The outcome measures included the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), grasp and pinch force measurements, and the ReJoyce automated hand function test (RAHFT).

The results were very promising:

Coffee and Stroke

by Andy at Hometelemed | March 14, 2011 | Scientific Study, Stroke 

A Swedish study published in the March 10, 2011 edition of Stroke claims that regular coffee consumption can reduce risk of stroke in women by up to 25%.

“Results from our study in women showed that consumption of 1 to 5 cups of coffee per day was associated with a 22 to 25 percent lower risk of stroke, compared with consumption of less than 1 cup a day,” – Susanna Larsson, lead researcher, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute in Stockholm

Larsson added that although positive, these are early findings and should not cause women to change their coffee-drinking habits.

The study was large, based on data from 34,670 women, aged 49 to 83, who took part in the Swedish Mammography Cohort, which looked for associations between diet, lifestyle and disease.

It’s Not All Roses:

Stimulating Stimulation: Can We Improve Motor Recovery Following Stroke Using Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?

Suzanne J. Ackerley 1,2, Cathy M. Stinear 2,3
1. Movement Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science,
2. Centre for Brain Research,
3. Neurology Research Group, Department of Medicine, The University of Auckland, New Zealand

Background: Ongoing impairment of the upper limb is common after stroke, despite neurorehabilitation. This impairment has a significant impact on an individual’s activity and participation in life roles. It is essential to explore new ways to optimize motor recovery.


Objectives:

What Works to Encourage Brain Plasticity and Recovery after Stroke?

Did you know that your brain is always re-organizing? Even in very old people being treated for advanced cancer there is still some brain re-organization taking place.  Brain plasticity or neuroplasticity are the terms used when the brain changes and adapts to experiences, environmental challenges, or the changes from stroke and brain damage.  From Johnasson’s (2011) review, what is important?

Early after stroke:

Finding Something Interesting To Do After Stroke!

Different people have different interests.  If you didn’t play basketball or the piano before stroke, it isn’t likely that you want to take up wheelchair basketball or learn to play the piano after your stroke.  We really need to think about Different Strokes for Different Folks — or at least different activities that are aligned with your interests.  So what are your interests and how do you find activities that fit your interest?

Larry and Jackie are interested in restoring classic cars and they highly recommend Rock'n August.  It is an international car show and music festival taking place in St. Albert, Alberta (a suburb of Edmonton). When: Tuesday, August the 7th, 2012 through Saturday the 11th, 2012. Information: http://www.rocknaugust.com

Interested in Watching plays, acting, Clowning, Improv, Comedy? Sharon recommends the Creative Age Festival. The 2012 Creative Age Festival takes place June 8 - 10. It encourages seniors to become more involved in the arts and promotes quality arts-based programming for seniors of any age and their families. Information: www.cafestival.ca

Interested in learning? – Remember  ELLA Edmonton Lifelong Learning Association — Register now because these interesting courses fill up fast! Information: http://web.extension.ualberta.ca/extcms/index.php/ella/

What else is coming up in Edmonton?  The Kiwanis Music Festival, the Edmonton Symphony,  other festivals, or plays.  Try the Edmonton Events Calendar:  http://www.edmonton.com/for-visitors/calendar-of-events.aspx

New menu entry -- "Edmonton City Events"

Right New Menu Entry  -- "Edmonton City Events".  The Edmonton City has a nice Calendar,  the List Events order by date, Event Category from "Business Events", ...,  "Trade Shows", and Event Venue from "Alberta Legislature", ..., "Winspear Centre".   Lots of neat events -- I have to look again, and again, and ...  Cheers / SSTattler.

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Saturdays News - MyVoice, Clot Retreival, and Migraine Sufferers

MyVoice, Clot Retreival, and Migraine Sufferers.

MyVoice:


I want to tell you about a great new feature we just added to the MyVoice app: Scanning with Switch Control.  Scanning makes it even easier for people with physical challenges to speak out loud, especially those who find it hard to use a touchscreen device.  This means MyVoice is now better than ever for people living with cerebral palsy, ALS, Parkinson's, loss of movement due to stroke, and many other challenges.

Check out this 1-minute video I made to show you how it works.

MERCI Clot Retreival Catheter For Ischemic Stroke

This is a new device from Concentric medical that is an alternative to tPA in the treatment of ischemic stroke. It has a 6 hour window for use, whereas systemic tPA has a 3 hour window. This device has been approved by the FDA. (i.e. USA)

Science Talk: Migraine May Double Risk of Stroke
Migraine sufferers are twice as likely to have heart attacks as people without migraine, according to a new study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. The study, published in the February 10 online issue of Neurology, found that migraine sufferers also face increased risk for stroke and were more likely to have key risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Saturday Comics - March 17th / 2012

For Better and For Worse  by Lynn Johnston /2006-10-21

(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 [12th of the series stroke of 88 -- every week])

Click Me!

 "Get well. Get well. ..."   

Dilbert               by Scott Adams / 2012-03-11

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

Click Me!

"Did you get the e-mail I texted you?"

Garfield            by Jim Davis / 2012-03-14

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

Click Me!

"It is peaceful !"

Pickles                 by Brian Crane / 2012-03-10

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

Click Me!

"Ha! No, I'm not a hero, Nelson."

* 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 - March 17th / 2012

SRAE Newsletter March 2012 - My Story: Debbie Jackman

My name is Debbie Jackman... and I am a stroke survivor... three time stroke survivor to be exact. My last stroke being October, 2010. There is much I could share with you about my journey to where I am today... but we all know time is valuable and you want to turn the page of this wonderful and informative newsletter.

I am the wife of the most wonderful man in the world, Mike, and together we have seven children, aged 13 to 35 (Chelsea, Travis, Steven, Tina, Brian, Michael and Jennifer), and soon to be a nana, as my son Brian and his beautiful wife Maria are expecting. I worked with Edmonton Public Schools for 23 years as an administrative assistant. My first stroke happened in 2007 when I was at work having a perfectly normal day. To think back, it is almost comical... I couldn’t understand what my secretary was saying and I could no longer speak, but drove myself to the hospital. Go figure...I had a second stroke eight days later while I was driving to work. Pulled over the van and called my husband who immediately called the ambulance. Another normal day beginning and ending in a mish mash of confusion and fear......

Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association (ELLA)

2012 ELLA Course Guide:

Quick Links Course Timetable Activities Noon-hour Presentations At a Glance: All Activities & Noon-hour Presentations Registration Check-In Parking Permit

Spring Courses For Older Adults Three Weeks of Fun

This is our 11th year of offering a popular and long-running annual Spring Session during the first three weeks in May.

The program consists of a variety of “just for fun courses” offered for adults 50+ in liberal arts, fine arts, science and the humanities as well as an emphasis on physical and mental well-being.

There are no prerequisites or exams.

Do you like turning over the grey matter? Do you enjoy meeting like-minded fellow students? The Edmonton Lifelong Learners' Spring Session is for you!

From painting, writing, and music to archaeology, history, and yoga, ELLA serves a feast of interesting programs. And students have FUN!

Are Stroke Survivors Getting The Rehabilitation They Need?

A 2009 article charges that stroke rehabilitation in Canada continues to function under models and practices that have changed little in the last four decades and struggles to implement new evidence-based or best practices.

Despite significant investment starting over a decade ago (2000) in evidence based reviews, best practice guidelines, standards of care, and centralized data collection—critical outcomes for stroke patients have not improved.  Only about 6% of the stroke budgets were spent on rehab and community care.

• There is strong evidence that rehabilitation needs to be intensive and functional, yet many rehabilitation patients continue to receive minimal practice.  In fact many stroke survivors in rehabilitation spend the majority of their time alone and resting.
• Pressure to move people through the rehabilitation system has resulted rehabilitation centres accepting patients with much milder impairments.  This is measured by rising admission FIMtm scores.  Severe stroke patients often cannot access the stroke rehabilitation system. 
• Maintenance care is declining or nonexistent.  Families and stroke survivors are not supported once after discharge from hospital. 

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Saturdays News - Trevor's Brain Was Almost Cut In Two

This video shown by CTV (not YouTube). 

Please ignore the first 15 seconds of advertisement.

Trevor's Brain Was Almost Cut In Two ...
W5: Baby Steps (movies part 1 & 2)
2nd March 2012









If Trevor Greene and Debbie Lepore had never met, you wonder if he would have had the will to recover from a devastating injury to his brain in 2006.  It happened in Afghanistan when Trevor, a Captain in the reserves, was serving with the Canadian Army.  After removing his helmet as a gesture of peace during a meeting with elders in a remote village, Trevor was attacked by a Taliban fighter who had an axe concealed beneath his clothes.  Trevor's brain was almost cut in two. It was the beginning of a long march to survive and recover, a six-year saga of willpower and the love between Trevor and Debbie.

Captain Trevor Greene, Canadian Armed Forces 

(in YouTube)

Remembrance Day - 11th November 2009

Update on Capt. Trevor Greene of CAF, recovering from a brutal axe attack in Afghanistan.

See also:

• Very nice site, ReBuildingYou (http://www.rebuildingyou.com/).  Many articles about stroke and brain injuries.  One article, Peace Warrior, a remarkable story of recovery, Captain Trevor Greene.
• In YouTube, there are at least about a half-dozen movies about Capt. Trevor/Debbie Greene and most them are good to view.

Saturday Comics - March 10th / 2012

For Better and For Worse  by Lynn Johnston /2006-10-20

(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 [11th of the series stroke of 88 -- every week])

Click Me!

 "... I don't have to eat my carrots !"   

Dilbert               by Scott Adams / 2012-03-10

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

Click Me!

"What went wrong this time?"

Garfield            by Jim Davis / 2012-03-04

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

Click Me!

"I'm done with March!"

Pickles                 by Brian Crane / 2012-03-07

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

Click Me!

"Earl, aren't you going to answer the phone?"

* 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.