The NOGGINS AND NEURONS Podcast
 

The NOGGINS AND NEURONS Podcast

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Stroke and Brain Injury

Episodes

Rodents and Recovery with Behavioral Neuroscientist Dr. Theresa A. Jones

Monday Aug 02, 2021

Monday Aug 02, 2021

Rodents and Recovery with Behavioral Neuroscientist Dr. Theresa A. Jones

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Rodents and Recovery with Behavioral Neuroscientist Dr. Theresa A. Jones

PETE: So one of the things I find interesting about fMRI’s...it doesn’t directly measure neuroplastic change and I always thought you would have to get really lucky drilling a hole through the skull, through the meninges and somehow get a very big microscope and see actual synaptogenesis and you’d have to get very lucky that those neurons just happen to get connected at that point. But you’re saying in this model they glow green and you can see that process happening in individual neurons?

 

DR. JONES: I feel so lucky to have lived long enough for these techniques in neuroscience that I had nothing to do with to be dropped into my lap. Yeah these, they’re transgenic mice that seem to be normal except they have been manipulated to have fluorescent proteins expressed in a subset of their cortical neurons, so that you can see the dendritic barbers of the cortical neurons either through thin skull or through implanted windows. And so you can watch the same parts of a neuron over time and see how they change and because you have the windows are big, you look at a whole big dendritic field and at least with cortical changes in response to learning new ways of moving, those changes seem not just to be in one neuron. I mean there’s crazy activity that gets instigated and, after a stroke, there’s crazy activity...by activity I don’t mean activity...I mean structural changes in neurons. A structural neural plasticity um is just explosive in response to strokes because that’s the remodeling process.

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Brain Injury Recovery Simplified, Pete and Deb engage in stimulating conversation with Dr. Theresa A. Jones, a behavioral neuroscientist from University of Texas at Austin. We talk about:

  • Translating research from bench side to bedside and what that means in terms of informing clinical practice and brain injury recovery
  • The importance of communication when translating research from animals to humans and questions are key, especially in terms of parameters and boundaries. Conditions matter!
  • Background details in Dr. Jones’ research such as age and health status of animals as it relates and applies to humans.
  • Some advantages of studying animal models include studying topic area one at a time, generalizing information, aging animals
  • The behavioral changes that follow stroke are major players in stroke outcome!
  • Intensity, timing and potential for harm; the VECTORS trial and mobilizing clients following stroke.
  • Repair and remodeling processes depend on neural activity patterns which are determined by behavioral experiences
  • Behavioral compensation is one of the most obvious ways behavioral adaptation (change) occurs following stroke and can be a major driver in brain remodeling after stroke
  • Compensation coupled with disuse impedes recovery of more normal movement
  • Bimanual training in animal models to learn about influence on unimanual function
  • Patterns of synaptic changes across both hemispheres that occur with learning new ways of using the good limb on its own vs. together with the affected limb
  • Dr. Jones’ thoughts on:
    • writing, which is a skill
    • rabbit holes and tangents-they’re fun
    • ways to improve communication, which might include putting the ego aside

We hope you enjoy our conversation with Dr. Jones. She is a true delight and makes information about brain research and stroke recovery understandable.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Theresa A. Jones, PhD Articles:

Jones TA (2017) Motor compensation and its effects on neural reorganization after stroke. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 18:267-280.

Clark TA, Sullender C, Jacob D, Zuo Y, Dunn AK & Jones TA (2019) Rehabilitative training interacts with ischemia instigated spine dynamics to promote a lasting population of new synapses in peri-infarct motor cortex.  Journal of Neuroscience, 39: 8471-848

Dutcher AM, Truong KV, Miller DD, Allred RP, Nudi E & Jones TA (2021) Training in a cooperative bimanual skilled reaching task, the popcorn retrieval task, improves unimanual function after motor cortical infarcts in rats. Behavioural Brain Research, 396:

Dorothy A. Kozlowski, PhD and Theresa A. Jones, PhD Articles:

Use-Dependent Structural Events in Recovery of Function

Use Dependent Exaggeration of Neuronal Injury After Unilateral Sensorimotor Cortex Lesions

Use Dependent Exacerbation of Brain Damage Occurs During an Early Post-Lesion Vulnerable Period

Neural Plasticity and Neural Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Combinatorial Motor Training Results in Functional Reorganization of Remaining Motor Cortex After Controlled Cortical Impact in Rats

Combining Multiple Types of Motor Rehabilitation Enhances Skilled Forelimb Use Following Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats

Learned Non-Use Article

Barth, J., Geed, S., Mitchell, A., Lum, P. S., Edwards, D. F., & Dromerick, A. W. (2020). Characterizing upper extremity motor behavior in the first week after stroke. PloS one, 15(8), e0221668. 

VECTORS trial

 

Questions and Comments about the podcast?

Donate to The Noggins And Neurons Podcast with your PayPal app. 

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Pete’s blog, book, Stronger After Stroke, and talks.

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

Music by scottholmesmusic.com

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The N&N Review: What We’ve Learned and Where We’re Going

Thursday Jul 29, 2021

Thursday Jul 29, 2021

The N&N Review:

What We’ve Learned and Where We’re Going

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Pete and Deb started off with a little silliness before moving on to talk about Noggins And Neurons podcast stats...

DEB: ...So I did look up downloads before we reconvened here tonight and we’re over 5,500...so, it’s saying something, I’m just not sure exactly what it’s saying and some day I hope to know

PETE: It’s like reading tea leaves. So, what is today’s episode about?

DEB: Today’s episode is...I love the name that you called it....it’s sort of a State of the Union episode because we have over 5,000 downloads, we’ve...how many episodes did we make so far? We’ve got 22 or 23 out there?

PETE: I think it’s 22. I could be wrong...

DEB: You’re probably right...We’re gonna talk about whatever the state of this union is.

PETE: I think you’re right, it’s 23....

DEB: And we have 122 followers. I think those are the people that have taken the time to follow us through Podbean.

PETE: So maybe that’s a good place to start. We have no idea what any of these numbers mean. We don’t even know if the download is only through Podbean’s site or through all sites. Isn’t that correct? We don’t know that, right?

DEB: Yeah, I don’t understand the back end of this thing.

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified, Pete and Deb talk about the podcast data and speculate on what it means. We highlight information from previous episodes and:

  • Try to determine what the topic download numbers mean. We speculate that therapists want to learn more about specific interventions, are curious about what other OT’s are doing and likely aren’t interested in common clinical concerns such as fall prevention.
  • Wonder why there were fewer listens to the episode with Super Survivor Kathy Spencer. Pete suggests that we can all learn from Kathy and other survivors who are doing well.
  • Share our viewpoints about reasons for intervention episodes having high interest.
  • Talked about our favorite episodes and why.
  • Enjoyed re-visiting important points already made while adding new thoughts.

We hope you enjoy this review and would love to hear from you! You can share information about who you are, your interest in stroke and brain injury and whatever else you think is relevant!

Questions and Comments about the podcast?

Donate to The Noggins And Neurons Podcast with your PayPal app

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Pete’s blog, book, Stronger After Stroke, and talks.

Music by scottholmesmusic.com

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Measuring Spasticity

Sunday Jul 25, 2021

Sunday Jul 25, 2021

Measuring Spasticity

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PETE: So, are we sorta kinda ready?

DEB: Yeah, ready or not...here I come

PETE: We’re never gonna outgrow this, are we?

DEB: No

PETE: It’s just gonna be like this forever...OK...so, hey, Deb Battistella, how you doin’?

DEB: Pete Levine, I’m great, how are you?

PETE: Oh, by the way, American College of Rehabilitation Medicine...I’m doing a talk for them in September. So, if you’re a member of ACRM or you’re planning to go, you should go to my talk! Thanks! That was a public service announcement from one of the co-hosts who was self-promoting his own stupid talk even though he doesn’t make any money off it. So, don’t worry about that, just come to his talk. Thank you very much.

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified, Pete and Deb talk about measuring spasticity. We start with a rabbit hole of sorts where we discuss the problem of home care OT’s not addressing client and caregiver needs when cognition is involved and overall therapist abuse by rehab companies. Here’s more detail about our conversation:

  • We talked about a problematic, current, real-life scenario where OT discharged a patient who would still benefit from skilled OT
  • Pete mentioned professional association advocacy that doesn’t seem to be working
  • We learned there is a time of day when spasticity isn’t present
  • Pete mentioned reasons why it’s important to use spasticity measurement scales rather than observation
  • Deb sought further clarification on spasticity, ROM and contractures - and yes, I’ve been an OT for over 20 years
  • We talked about spasticity measurement scales and how to perform them

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Questions and Comments about the podcast?

Donate to The Noggins And Neurons Podcast: Venmo @neurons

Pete’s blog, book, Stronger After Stroke, and talks.

Music by scottholmesmusic.com

 

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Leading-Edge OT with Doro & Lynette of NEUROHUB: Part II

Wednesday Jul 21, 2021

Wednesday Jul 21, 2021

Leading-Edge OT with Doro & Lynette of NEUROHUB: Part II

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EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified, Pete and Deb talk with Doro & Lynette from The Neuro Hub, Orlando, Florida, about leading edge OT services they provide. In part 2 we:

  • Learned about the Neuro Hub locations, staff and more
  • Talked about the roles sleep, gut health and heart rate variability for recovery and health
  • Discussed how nature, exercise and community are important for achieving optimal health
  • Learned how Doro and Lynette educate on and incorporate mindfulness strategies to promote the mind-body connection and facilitate improvement in their clients
  • Talked about non-OT books that inform OT practice
  • Found out how the Neuro Hub uses brain computer interface technology in stroke and brain injury recovery.

You will hear fun facts and behind the scenes details and thoughts about these topics, including how the brain computer interface program incorporates evidence into practice on many levels. Doro & Lynette bring their dynamic personalities and passion for OT to this conversation. We’re certain that everyone who listens will find meaning and inspiration... Clinicians perhaps you’ll break out of tradition and create new opportunities in practice...Survivors and caregivers maybe you’ll seek high quality care for the recovery journey – it’s out there!

Questions and Comments about the podcast?

Donate to The Noggins And Neurons Podcast: Venmo @neurons

Pete’s blog, book, Stronger After Stroke, and talks.

Music by scottholmesmusic.com

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Leading-Edge OT with Doro & Lynette of NEUROHUB: Part I

Sunday Jul 18, 2021

Sunday Jul 18, 2021

Leading-Edge OT with Doro & Lynette of NEUROHUB: Part I

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EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified, Pete and Deb talk with Doro & Lynette from The Neuro Hub, Orlando, Florida, about leading edge OT services they provide . In part 1 we covered:

  • The Neuro Hub business model and their client-centered practice
  • Following your heart for career satisfaction
  • The Neuro Hub OT Process – evaluation, treatment, goals and motivation
  • The many players and concerns associated with driving following neurological injury (and other diagnoses)
  • The importance of cognition and vision and the relationship among the two
  • Neuroscientists and other medical professionals who inform and inspire us
  • How Doro & Lynette treat subluxation – from therex (it’s not always a bad word in OT practice), to mindfulness, K-T Taping, e-stim and more

Doro & Lynette bring their dynamic personalities and passion for OT to this conversation. We’re certain that everyone who listens will find meaning and inspiration... Clinicians perhaps you’ll break out of tradition and create new opportunities in practice...Survivors and caregivers maybe you’ll seek high quality care for the recovery journey – it’s out there!

Questions and Comments about the podcast?

Donate to The Noggins And Neurons Podcast: Venmo @neurons

Pete’s blog, book, Stronger After Stroke, and talks.

Music by scottholmesmusic.com

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What Works II

Tuesday Jul 13, 2021

Tuesday Jul 13, 2021

What Works II

DEB: I wanted to talk about Marijuana
PETE: Well. Who doesn’t?
DEB: Exactly!
PETE: You live in New York man, you can do anything you want! Ohio they’ll string you up but yeah...so what about pot?
DEB: Well first of all I learned that it doesn’t cause stroke the way cigarettes do....cigarette smoking...it’s really good for treating other effects beyond the spasticity and things like that. It’s more like anxiety, anger, sadness, frustration, hopelessness, fear, depression types of feelings which I think is really important because if people are feeling those negative types of emotions then it’s harder to participate in your rehabilitation.
PETE: I’ve done some talks in Colorado recently and you know there's often therapists from every different kind of facility and I'm like, hey does anybody here um work in skilled nursing....and yeah, yeah they do... so um, are they allowed to smoke pot, I mean like you know, these are people they’re adults... can they smoke pot? They go, yeah, yeah, they can smoke pot. I go, how does that affect rehab? Well they don’t want to go. They just say no...
DEB: They’re too chill?
PETE: They say no I’m not going anywhere. That's the downside.

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified, Pete and Deb talk about interventions that do work. In part II we covered:

  • Subconscious mind and stroke recovery
  • Dysarthria
  • Resistance to new ideas, working through it and moving into acceptance
  • The role of research to help us leave our comfort zones
  • Combining interventions to drive neuroplasticity, create home programs and the importance of the therapist/client relationship
  • Letting go of the old you as a means of evolving and progressing through recovery
  • E-stim, functional e-stim and functional improvements along with how to uncomplicate it so therapists use it more
  • Small group of interventions that work and often work better when combined together
  • Acupuncture, acupressure and dry needling along with muscle vibration in stroke recovery
  • Task specific training, the LEAPS Trial, Modified Constraint Induced Therapy, gait and ambulation
  • Mind-Body interventions and Hippo Therapy can improve balance
  • Brain-Computer Interface to improve UE function following stroke
  • Sensory brain areas are neuroplastic and re-training improves joint position sense, light touch, 2-point discrimination, and better Berg Balance scores
  • Physical activity as a cognitive intervention for stroke recovery
  • Marijuana to reduce neurotoxicity and pain as well as decrease depressive and anxiety symptoms

You’ll hear more clinical reasoning in action in this second episode of what works as Pete and Deb talk about some commonly used interventions and a few that are less common and what the research says. We talked more about interventions that work well together, creating home programs and novelty in the rehab process.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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RESOURCES:

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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What Does Work I

Saturday Jul 10, 2021

Saturday Jul 10, 2021

WHAT DOES WORK I

PETE: But there may be a mental block there, a sort of phobia, a fear that they’d never be able to get it back and you do see that in survivors. You go, Mr. Smith, you know we can fool around with balance training and we can fool around with grasp and release training, you have trouble opening and closing your hand so that would be good we can work on that, we can work on balance, but you were a scratch golfer back in the day. So if we put a putter in your hand and we get you to start to golf, you’ll be working on balance and you’ll be working on grasp and release and we won’t even have to worry about it cuz the whole system will drive itself. And then Mr. Smith says, I never want to go back to playing golf because I was such a good golfer. And now you’re going to come in with this what, you’re gonna have what, like a putter return thing or something and stick an old putter in my hand? I don’t want to do that. But if you can get him to turn that corner all of a sudden, the system starts to run itself.

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified, Pete and Deb talk about interventions that do work. We covered a lot of ground and made two episodes. In part I we covered:

  • Action observation – how and why it works
  • When it’s good to use Constraint Induced Therapy
  • Mirror therapy – yes, it came up again!
  • How mental practice got its start and how and why it works
  • When and when NOT to use stretching
  • We talked about interventions that go well together
  • Mindset and thinking about boredom with recovery

Like everything in life, stroke and brain injury recovery is multifaceted and so intervention selection must be too. Pete and Deb talk about the topics listed above as individual interventions and how they might look if combined with others. You’ll hear clinical reasoning in action! It is part of the rehab process, is ever evolving and must always include the head of the team – the survivor.

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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RESOURCES:

Pete’s blog, book, Stronger After Stroke, and talks.

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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✨Google Podcasts  ✨iTunes    ✨Spotify

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Sensation Recovery

Monday Jul 05, 2021

Monday Jul 05, 2021

Sensation Recovery

PETE: If you can’t feel it, it’s harder to integrate it into anything that you do and so you don’t do it as much and so you add to learned non-use.

DEB: Yeah. And think about that with the person who also has neglect. They don’t know that they have that side and they don’t feel that side, there’s no reminder that the side is there so it impacts body awareness.

PETE: Absolutely. Let me ask you this, as a clinician, and I’ll try to get my head around this as well, if you think that sensation is recoverable, do you think it’s worth putting some of your valuable clinical time, your limited amount of time with that patient focused specifically on sensation recovery?

DEB: I think it would be worth it. Because if sensation and movement are linked together, it’s important, and for all the reasons that we just talked about, the things that can go wrong, improving sensation can increase safety, it can increase independence, quality of life...yes, I think we should be working on that.

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified, Pete and Deb talk about recovering sensation. We talk about:

  • The role of sensation in movement, body awareness and safety
  • The impact of sensation on quality of life
  • Repetitive practice and sensation recovery
  • Assessing and treating sensation along with best practice info on documentation
  • Active and Passive interventions
  • A sensation recovery home program

Pete and Deb talk about the points listed above and a few others in detail with the hope that you can do more around improving sensation after stroke or brain injury.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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RESOURCES:

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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tPA: The Clot Buster

Saturday Jul 03, 2021

Saturday Jul 03, 2021

tPA: The Clot Buster

PETE: And you still hear in doctors voicing this reluctance to use tPA because they’re afraid people are going to bleed out.

DEB: There’s so much that doesn’t make sense to me around those types of decisions and the way that our society is right now with suing people because if you don’t have tPA, it’s not going to end well. So if you’re already in a situation where it’s not going to end well, what is the risk? And I do think that some of it has to do with the way that we view the life cycle and our beliefs around living and dying.

PETE: Really....how so Deb? This is gonna get deep quick, I can tell...

DEB: Here we go...

PETE: What do ya got?

DEB: Well, we don’t get out of here alive. I mean we do die and I have seen a lot working in the critical care units...I have seen people come in with those MOLST forms

PETE & DEB: Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment -MOLST

DEB: So those are pretty specific, and you can put exactly what you want on there and I have seen family members and doctors walk all over those forms and keep people alive who don’t want to be kept alive. And it’s extending...often times it’s extending an unhealthy situation to begin with and people don’t want to live that way because it’s not living and, you know, just sometimes it’s really hard to let people go, it’s hard to watch people suffer, it’s hard on caregivers...and I don’t...there’s so much, ummm, (sigh), what’s the right way to say this...people don’t know...if you’ve never been around people who are very debilitated and who need a lot of care to total care, then it’s hard to imagine the challenge on a person, on a caregiver for that...until you start doing it and everything changes that way...so, you know, because we don’t know how things are going to turn out, but if a person is having a stroke and they’re already presenting poorly, and tPA might make it better, then to me it makes sense...give the tPA.

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified, Pete and Deb talk about tPA – Tissue Plasminogen Activator. We cover:

  • tPA, when administered safely and appropriately can mean the difference between a life of disability and one of ability.
  • Signs and symptoms of stroke
  • How tPA works (physiologically) in the body
  • When tPA isn’t or can’t be used
  • Possible adverse effects of tPA
  • Therapy and early mobility following tPA administration
  • Lifesaving benefits of mobile stroke units and all they’re capable of doing

Pete and Deb talk about tPA from our research, therapy and personal backgrounds. Hopefully we sparked enough interest that you want to learn more and do additional research. Knowledge is power and helps inform decisions wherever you find yourself in life.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

 CCOT_N_N_qrcodeawxh5.png

RESOURCES:

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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✨Google Podcasts  ✨iTunes    ✨Spotify

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What Doesn’t Work II

Tuesday Jun 29, 2021

Tuesday Jun 29, 2021

What Doesn't Work II

PETE: Here’s one for you...acupuncture may not be helpful for improving  functional ambulation, spasticity and activities of daily living for the lower extremity. Again we’re still talking about the lower extremity. Here’s one that may not surprise you...Neuro Aid may not be beneficial for improving stroke severity

DEB: Huh! That’s interesting. It made it in here, into the EBRSR

PETE: Yeah. How about this one? Stimulants may not be beneficial for improving motor function. Do you remember when stimulants were all the rage for people with brain injury because it was thought that they would somehow get better if they had...what’s the big one again?

DEB: Ritalin...

PETE: Adderall

DEB: oh Adderall yeah... Ritalin’s the one that I seem to remember somebody talking about a lot at the hospital

PETE: For brain injury recovery?

DEB: I think so because it was a stroke center

PETE: How about this one...have you ever heard of wholebody vibration?

DEB: Yeah!

PETE: Yeah? Wholebody vibration may not be beneficial for improving balance, functional ambulation, and muscle strength. How ‘bout them apples?

DEB: How ‘bout them apples?

PETE: Yeah...

DEB: Is that going to come up again in what does work?

PETE: That’s a good question because I know for acupuncture there are some things where it does work

DEB: Yeah...I do too.

PETE: You can have that. You can have stuff that doesn’t work for one thing but where it works for another. Yeah, absolutely

DEB: Maybe we should’ve done a comparison what does this intervention work for, what doesn’t it work for?

PETE: That is the third one...so we have what doesn’t work, what does work and what’s the comparison for things that do work and don’t work and when do they work and not work? This is a lot of work!

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified, Pete and Deb talk about more of What Doesn’t Work. We discovered:

  • There’s mixed evidence around bilateral training
  • How clinical reasoning works and why it’s important in the rehab process
  • The literature is mixed about music therapy, telerehabilitation, arm/shoulder robotics for arm recovery
  • Neuro Aid engages in shady practices and it may not improve spasticity
  • Research supports that recovery does NOT occur from proximal to distal – it is indeed a myth!
  • Yet again the importance of bringing meaning into recovery
  • Acupuncture, Botox, exoskeleton systems, whole body vibration and stimulants may not be effective for lower extremity recovery
  • It’s important to look closely at evidence available for treating spatial neglect
  • That hyperbaric oxygen therapy isn’t effective for stroke recovery

Pete and Deb infuse clinical reasoning and stories into this interesting conversation about stroke and brain injury interventions that don’t work. People who have experienced stroke or brain injury are smart. They are also in a vulnerable space and may be susceptible to being taken advantage of. This why all of us, survivors, caregivers and healthcare providers must do our research to ensure they receive high quality interventions that work.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways! 

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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RESOURCES:

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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What Doesn’t Work I

Sunday Jun 27, 2021

Sunday Jun 27, 2021

What Doesn’t Work I

PETE: “Stem cells are gonna shine in the future. There’s no FDA approval. You can’t get it anywhere in the United States. You can’t get it anywhere in Europe. There are places that you can get it and I’m gonna put a link in the show notes to two places that do it. Both of them are in China. I had a survivor, that when I wrote about this in my blog, report that he went to China to get this done and it cost him about 16,000 U. S. dollars to do it and this....it makes it difficult. You know, the Chinese are doing it but we’re not doing it. You know...it’s tough to standardize things unless nations across the world agree to the standardization. I have to say, and the reporting back that I got from the blog, it didn’t seem to work that well. But, you know, you never know. So I think there’s great hope for stem cells for people with brain injury, and a lot of other neurological diseases...You know, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, MS, there’s a bunch of stuff out there that could probably benefit from this stuff. It’s just not there yet.”

DEB: “Yeah...Well, from the information I read it seems to play a role in decreasing inflammation which is a big problem following brain injury.”

PETE: “I think stem cells are gonna shine in the future...People are freaked out. Look, my dear loved one went down. And then you go online and you go, ‘stem cells...boom, we gotta get ‘em. Let’s go to China. I’ll do anything for my spouse. You know, whatever it takes.’ And this is part of the problem here...This is a very vulnerable population and it’s a very vulnerable time in their life. If you’ve ever been a caregiver, you know. You’re just like desperate for answers. And then somebody’s coming by saying ‘yeah we got this thing. Oh, but by the way, it’s not FDA approved but they do it in China,’ you know it’s just a dangerous situation.”

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified, Pete and Deb talk about What Doesn’t Work. This turned out to be a big topic, so we turned it into two episodes. In part I we talk about:

  • Conventional therapy – what it looks like since it’s referred to in the research but not clearly defined
  • An eclectic intervention approach appears to be the best way to promote recovery
  • Challenges in reading the research and deciding whether or not certain interventions or certain aspects of interventions actually work
  • Interventions that don’t work and are harmful or dangerous, those that don’t work and don’t seem to be harmful and the ones that work but better options might be available
  • Stem cells, how it works and researcher reports that stretch the truth about outcomes and more
  • How the research shows there are some effective aspects of NDT but in general doesn’t stand up well compared to other approaches

Pete and Deb share exciting news about upcoming guest interviews at the beginning of the episode before they talk about stem cells and brain injury recovery; Pete’s curiosity around word choices used in the EBRSR – it may, it may not, it can, etc. that leaves us clinicians confused, and his plan to ask Dr. Teasell to clear that up for us; and the lack of research on Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT), a highly thought of and used intervention.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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RESOURCES:

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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Subluxation and Shoulder Pain

Sunday Jun 20, 2021

Sunday Jun 20, 2021

Subluxation and Shoulder Pain

“And my problem with taping generally is, it’s kind of band-aidy because as soon as you take it off the arm could fall right back out. However, if you could get that to reduce pain and then have them do stuff, which then activates the SITS muscles and the deltoid and it brings that humerus back into where it needs to go, in the meantime because they are doing stuff...they’re driving cortical change, which reduces spasticity, which may indicate more movement and now we get this upward spiral of recovery that could be quite helpful. So taping may be a temporary thing but it might be a good temporary thing.”

EPISODE SUMMARY: This episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified covers subluxation and pain. In this episode we learn:

  • That moving the hand engages the shoulder and the muscles that reduce subluxation
  • The proximal to distal arm recovery notion is a myth
  • That approximately 80% of stroke survivors experience shoulder subluxation
  • The importance of proper arm positioning to prevent shoulder subluxation and soft tissue damage
  • Pete’s and Deb’s opinions of overhead pulley use by stroke survivors - again
  • Ways to measure subluxation
  • About treatment strategies for supporting the shoulder, improving subluxation and reducing pain

Join Pete and Deb as we talk about subluxation statistics, how to prevent shoulder subluxation and/or soft tissue damage and the importance of safely moving a hemi-paretic shoulder. We discuss several braces that are commonly used to support the shoulder as well as common challenges experienced when donning and doffing them.  We also cover e-stim, NMES, functional e-stim, TENS, stretching, and taping as effective methods for addressing subluxation. We learned that brain controlled interfacing (BCI) with e-stim (which incorporates action observation and motor imagery) results in greater improvements in reducing subluxation and pain, than when functional e-stim is used alone.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Comley-White, N., Mudzi, W., & Musenge, E. (2018). Effects of shoulder strapping in patients with stroke: A randomized control trial. South African Journal of Physiotherapy, 1-11. ISSN. (Online) 2410-8219, (Print) 0379-6175.

Hartwig, M., Gelbrich, G., & Griewing, B. (2012). Functional orthosis in shoulder joint subluxation after ischaemic brain stroke to avoid post hemiplegic shoulder-hand syndrome: a randomized clinical trial. Clinical Rehabilitation 26 (9) 807-816. DOI: 10.1177/0269215511432355 cre.sagepub.com

Jang, Y., Kim, T., Lee, B. (2016). Effects of brain–computer interface-controlled functional electrical stimulation training on shoulder subluxation for patients with stroke: A randomized controlled trial. Occupational Therapy International, 23(2), 175–185. https://doi.org/10.1002/oti.1422

Chatterjee, S., Hayner, K., Arumugam, N., Goyal, M., Midha, D., Arora, A. (2016). The California tri-pull taping method in the treatment of shoulder subluxation after stroke: A randomized clinical trial. North American Journal of Medical Sciences (8)4

Kate Hayner's Calif Tri Pull Taping Method video

Where electrodes should be placed for NMES and subluxation

Products to help subluxation and shoulder pain:

OmoTrain

GivMohr Sling 

StimRouter

Research:

A randomized controlled trial on the immediate and long-term effects of arm slings on shoulder subluxation in stroke patients

Effect of arm sling application on gait and balance in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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RESOURCES:

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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Mirror Therapy

Tuesday Jun 15, 2021

Tuesday Jun 15, 2021

“I have to say, out of all the therapies that rehab can do, mirror therapy seems like it’s the most robust. The EBRSR and other meta-analyses get behind mirror therapy so much I’m amazed. And this is just because I’ve known you and we started doing this podcast, I’ve been keeping an eye on mirror therapy, thinking ok it’s a good thing...apparently it’s not a good thing, it’s a great thing...Unlike a meta-analysis that is done where you might look at a meta-analysis from 2016...well, it’s been a while since 2016. The EBRSR is updated every year so you’re always getting the latest and greatest in meta-analysis form and here’s some of the stuff they say...’mirror therapy on its own or in combination with other interventions can improve many aspects of upper limb function following stroke.’  Now you might think that that’s a pretty mild statement, but it says can improve and the word can there is bizarre for the EBRSR cuz they never say can. They say, ‘it may, it may not, it doesn’t seem to, it may, maybe, kinda, sort of’ but this is the one they say ‘it can.’ And that stuck out because there’s only like that and nothing else where they are willing to go out on a limb and say ‘it can.’ And it showed strong evidence, Level 1A, the best, the highest evidence to support the use of mirror therapy to improve unilateral spatial neglect in the subacute phase of stroke recovery and improve upper extremity kinematics and motor function...

EPISODE SUMMARY: This episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified is all about mirror therapy. We talked about:

  • The history of mirror therapy and V. S. Ramachandran
  • Mirror neurons, empathy and brain activity
  • What research says about mirror therapy improving sensation, hemi-inattention/neglect and pusher syndrome
  • Pusher syndrome explained and what it looks like in real life
  • Mirror therapy and complex regional pain syndrome
  • The strong evidence supporting use of mirror therapy as an intervention following stroke
  • Mirror therapy protocols & home programs
  • Noggins And Neurons Podcast listener discounts

Join Pete and Deb as we discuss the ways that mirror therapy can be used to help many of the problems faced by stroke and brain injury survivors.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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RESOURCES:

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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Constraint Induced Therapy: Part II

Saturday Jun 12, 2021

Saturday Jun 12, 2021

CONSTRAINT INDUCED THERAPY II

OVERVIEW: Pete: Yeah, although be forewarned that if you have questions, we may read it on the air and, uh...on the air! Are we on the air? I don’t even know...

Deb: Like WKRP In Cincinnati.

Pete: Hey ‘now for the big sounds of the big town where the daddy-o of the radio in a city so nice they named it twice. New York, New York.’ I was communications....

Deb: You’ve been waiting your whole life for this opportunity!

Pete: I used to practice that...  

EPISODE SUMMARY: This episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified is part 2 of Constraint Induced Therapy (CIT). Part 2 begins with Pete reiterating important points covered in Episode 1, including:

  • Commitment is required for participation in a CIT program
  • When NOT to wear the constraint: when ambulating, navigating stairs, bathing/washing, toileting and driving
  • Review of frequently asked questions about CIT including compliance, dropout rate; that CIT is not an easy intervention but is worth it, hand dominance, location of infarct, use in acute stroke

The conversation further evolved into:

  • Research on the use of CIT at the acute stage and the VECTORS trial
  • When it’s safe to begin CIT
  • Using Constraint Induced Therapy during the chronic phase – plateaus, taking breaks and having a strategic recovery plan
  • What happens to the weaker side when the training focus is on the stronger side during the first 10 days following brain injury and why it’s important to limit compensation
  • What happens to the brain with intense exercise during the first 7 days – what intensity looks like and examples of how to determine intensity levels
  • Using CIT with children
  • Reimbursement for modified Constraint Induced Therapy
  • Socialization, Groups, friendly competition and CIT
  • Starting a CIT program: benefits to survivors and clinics
  • All about lower extremity CIT, including how it’s done and figuring out who it’s appropriate for

This engaging conversation goes deeper into Constraint Induced Therapy. Survivors, caregivers and clinicians alike will benefit...

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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RESOURCES:

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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Constraint Induced Therapy: Part I

Saturday Jun 05, 2021

Saturday Jun 05, 2021

Constraint Induced Therapy: Part I

OVERVIEW: Pete: And I asked whoever answered the phone, may I please speak to Dr. Ince. And he goes ‘hello’ and I’m in a panic because I’m like this is the guy! It took me three days to find him! And I’m like, ahh, Dr. Ince my name is Pete Levine and I’m doing a book on ah Constraint Induced Therapy and um Dr. Taub said that you were the first human to ever do it on humans and I’m really excited to talk to you... and he goes ‘I can’t hear you. There doin’ construction outside. Wait, let me close the door.’ Boom! Door slams and he comes back and he tells me this fantastic story. 

Pete quoting Dr. Ince: In 1967, I’m in a Macy’s and I’m standing there next to this guy. I don’t know who he is, and ah, we’re at a table with toys and our wives are gone doing something, I don’t what they were doing. And he was fooling with this toy...’

Pete: I always imagine this toy was the monkey with the two cymbals going like shika tik tik.

Pete quoting Dr. Ince: ‘And he was foolin’ with this toy and we got to talking and I’m a physiatrist and he was doing this stuff and he invited me to his lab in Brooklyn...’

Pete: And this is my best NY accent...I’m so sorry...you know I was born in Manhattan, so I have a little bit of right to do this.

Pete quoting Dr. Ince: ‘And um, and I asked him: What you're doing with these monkeys... Can I do it with humans? And what I found was that it could be done with people. We did the experiment. We were the first to publish about it and with some people it was successful, with some people not so successful, and some people it was a total failure.’

Pete: And that’s still where we are today. Constraint Induced Therapy is not for everyone. I think you would agree.

Deb: Yes. That’s fascinating! What a cool life you have!

Pete: I know! Lawrence Ince... he was so cool with me. Once he saw that I wasn’t calling him to sell him life insurance or something...you know he was willing to talk. So, he was great. It was just great. It sends shivers up my spine still...

 

EPISODE SUMMARY: This episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified is all about Constraint Induced Therapy (CIT). CIT is a big topic and we talked for a long time – enough for two full episodes. In this part 1 section we:

  • Heard about the history of CIT - that it began with Nobel Prize winner, Sir Charles Sherrington 
  • Learned that Sir Charles Sherrington coined the words ‘synapse,’ and ‘neuron,’ and he talked about ‘neural networks.’ That's not all, he drew neurons and synapses! Listen to learn why this is a BIG DEAL...
  • Reviewed dorsal root rhizotomy and went deeper into it, including the procedure and process – according to Pete, it's a really great tool for spasticity treatment
  • Learned about reflexes and movement
  • Talked about the role of Operant Conditioning in CIT
  • Compared differences between research done by Dr. Edward Taub and that performed by Dr. Stephen Page & Pete Levine
  • Tied in the importance of home programs and clinic follow up for client follow through

This episode begins with a bit of fascinating neuroscience history to include Nobel Prize winner Sir Charles Sherrington. There’s no rabbit hole involved as it ties right into the topic of Constraint-Induced Therapy! Pete takes us along a journey into the research using his artful way of telling a story that keeps everyone captivated.  We transition smoothly from the early days of CIT into Dr. Edward Taub’s work, and then onto detailed information around the modified version of CIT with our very own Peter G. Levine’s work.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

  • A journal article about the first time constraint induced therapy was tried in humans, by Lawrence Ince, MD.
    • Ince J. Escape and avoidance conditioning of response in the plegic arm of stroke patients; a preliminary study. Psychonom Sci 1969; 16: 49-50.

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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RESOURCES:

Pete’s blog, book, Stronger After Stroke,  and  talks.

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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Neuroplastic Beats Spastic

Wednesday Jun 02, 2021

Wednesday Jun 02, 2021

OVERVIEW: Now the one thing that they do have is finger flexion. And often therapists think you cannot let them flex their fingers because if you do you will strengthen the overwhelmingly strong flexors; and if you do that you will make the spasticity worse – which is NOT true. Spastic muscles are weak so even if you strengthen them it wouldn’t be the end of the world. But you’re not trying to strengthen them; you’re just trying to activate them. How are you gonna re-establish brain control over the finger flexors if you don’t allow them to flex the fingers? But what about a ball – a squishy ball? Who doesn’t like a squishy ball? You squish into the ball, it re-establishes brain control over the flexors thereby reducing spasticity. That’s the whole thing.

EPISODE SUMMARY: This episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified is all about spasticity. In this deep dive we learn:

  • What spasticity is and is not
  • That spasticity is under-treated
  • The impact of untreated spasticity on the body and survivor quality of life
  • Understanding spasticity from the Neuroplastic Model

Pete shares his in-depth knowledge about spasticity in this informative episode of Noggins And Neurons. Deb’s brain kicks into OT gear and attempts to process information Pete shares – some of it as she hears it for the first time. This must listen episode will change the way some of us think about spasticity while also giving everyone ways to think about it that will ultimately benefit the survivor.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Evidence for the "neuroplastic model of spasticity reduction"

 CIT decreases spasticity and “pathological” synergies

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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RESOURCES:

Pete’s blog, book, Stronger After Stroke,  and  talks.

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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Research for Recovery

Sunday May 30, 2021

Sunday May 30, 2021

Research for Recovery

OVERVIEW: “So here's a little fun fact: In a lot of these articles the contact information for the researchers is made available. And I have been known to reach out to researchers over the course of my career and they do respond to me and oftentimes they're very happy—very happy—to share their information and some of their PowerPoint slides and stuff that will help you in your practice. It goes back to what you were saying in the beginning. Researchers want us using their information.” 

EPISODE SUMMARY: This episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified gets into research for recovery. We talk about research in terms that everybody can understand. In this episode we talk about:

  • What to look for when starting off on a research path
  • Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses as a good sign that your topic is well investigated
  • The history about how to discern evidence-based practice – good for clinicians who engage in patient-driven care as well as survivors and caregivers for assessing the care received
  • Reasons to be evidence-based...because it’s fun and satisfies one’s rebellious nature? – Why, YES!
  • Detailed information to guide researchers. NOTE: anyone who wants to know about the evidence is a researcher – survivors, caregivers, students and clinicians...
  • Where to start to your research journey
  • More...

To help offset fears and symptoms of research, Pete and Deb discuss their personal investigative styles that make research fun for them! Neither one experiences migraines or nausea whenever engaging in this exciting aspect of their work and don’t think you should either...Pete goes into history around evidence-based medicine and speaks from his research background while Deb talks from her clinical and teaching experiences. We hope you find great value in both the conversation and the show notes. HINT: There’s more in the notes than we talked about during our time together.

Pete and Deb agree that applying evidence to practice is essential for optimal recovery outcomes following stroke and TBI. We understand that knowing where, how and why can be challenging and cause procrastination, which is the reason for covering this much needed topic. We hope this RESEARCH FOR RECOVERY episode helps steer you in a right direction as you take the next step, whatever the reason for investigating stroke and TBI recovery.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

  • Evidence Pyramid: There are many available online. This link highlights the EBM Pyramid used by University of California Irvine. It includes information about the TRIP database that I learned about through net, a good resource.
  • TRIP Medical Database – free and premium access to medical information/journal articles
  • Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR) Website – org – “The purpose of the Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR) is to make it easier to find, understand, and use the results of research that can make a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities.” (ktdrr.org, 2021)

ResearchMatch helps match volunteers researchers and their studies at institutions across the country.

NIH-sponsored clinical trials that are currently accepting participants.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center Search the Studies site 

Find clinical trials from around the world.

The number of medical articles published  per year 

Find all of the following under "RESEARCHING" in the middle of the web page:

Evidence-based review of stroke rehabilitation

StrokEngine: Tons of info for therapists and survivors

PubMed Central: Free Journal Articles (NIH)

MedlinePlus Simple and Free bottom line reviews

Bookshelf: free online books and docs (NIH)

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Bio med central free open-access articles

TRIP Database: a smart, fast tool to find high quality clinical research evidence

Hindawi Free Access to Journals

Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

 

CONNECT WITH US:

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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RESOURCES:

Information about Pete’s blog, book, Stronger After Stroke,  and  talks.

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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How Repetition Rules Recovery

Tuesday May 25, 2021

Tuesday May 25, 2021

How Repetition Rules Recovery

OVERVIEW: "What we all want at the end of the day is better quality, fluid, coordinated movement. But sometimes we don't get there. I would suggest to therapists: Don't make the perfect the enemy of the good. We're not trying to make them perfect, we're just trying to get them better. And better is good.

So sometimes the beauty is not in the beauty but in the ugliness of the movement. Let it be ugly. Let it be sweaty. Look— if you don't think that this has value, here's what you need to do: Go to a music store and get yourself a viola, and let me know how that doesn't sound like a dozen doing cats for the next six months. ‘Cause it’s gonna! Take up golf! It's gonna be— it's not supposed to be beautiful. It's supposed to be ugly. You got to enjoy the stuff."

EPISODE SUMMARY: This episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified explains the importance of repetition for regaining movement. We talk about:

  • Repetition and where it fits in the trifecta of brain rules
  • What getting better means
  • The number of repetitions required for a person to get better
  • Variables that impact motor recovery, including survivors age, area and size of infarct, medication use, survivor motivation and movement intricacies
  • Survivor and Clinician perceptions on intensity
  • Importance of leadership in supporting new protocol and program development

Pete and Deb discuss the real-world motor and physiological effects of stroke and how thoughts impact behaviors. Pete explains research that details the challenges around determining a specific number of repetitions survivors need to perform to get better. He stresses the importance of incorporating meaning into interventions.

We found great research that looks at survivor and therapist perceptions around intensity that should help everyone feel more comfortable and confident in developing rehab programs with appropriate intensity levels that facilitate functional change. 

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

How many repetitions does it take to drive brain changes and movement changes in folks with brain injury/ stroke?

This study showed that there were similar outcomes under three dosages of repetitive practice...

There were four groups:

  • Group A (the control) received 3 hours of traditional therapy consisting of passive movement, therapeutic positioning, and weight bearing on the affected limb. Throughout study the score increased ~3 points for the Fugl-Meyer.
  • Group B: Modified constraint induced therapy consisting of 3 hours of shaping practice per day, and a constraint on 90% of all waking hours. Throughout study the score increased ~17 points for the Fugl-Meyer.
  • Group C: 300: repetitions per day, 5 days per week, increases across all outcomes (FM, MAL, WMFT, etc.) started at 2 weeks and the trajectory continued throughout the study. Throughout study the score increased ~17 points for the Fugl-Meyer.
  • Group D: Same as Group C, but double the number of repetitions. Throughout study the score increased ~19 points for the Fugl-Meyer.
  1. Janssen, J., Klassen, T., Connell, L., & Eng., J. (2020). Factors influencing the delivery of intensive rehabilitation in stroke: Patient perceptions versus rehabilitation therapists perceptions. Physical Therapy 100:307-316.
  2. Rosenfeldt, A., Linder, S., Davidson, S., Clark, C., Zimmerman, N., Lee, J. & Alberts, J. (2019). Combined aerobic exercise and task practice improve health-related quality of life postroke: A preliminary analysis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 100: 923-30.
  3. Study findings from University of Colorado School of Medicine broaden understanding of neuroscience (Motor learning promotes remyelination via new and surviving oligodendrocytes). June 2, 2020. Life Science Weekly
  4. Bacmeister, C., Barr, H., McClain, C., Thornton, M., Nettles, D., Welle, C. & Hughes, E. (2020). Motor learning promotes remyelination via new and surviving oligodendrocytes. Nature Neuroscience. July ; 23(7): 819–831. doi:10.1038/s41593-020-0637-3 

CONNECT WITH US:

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

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RESOURCES:

Information about Pete’s blog, book, “Stronger After Stroke: Your Roadmap to Recovery” 3rd edition,  and  talk.

Deb's OT Resources:

REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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Motor Learning Simplified

Thursday May 20, 2021

Thursday May 20, 2021

OVERVIEW: "Something I try to tell therapists all the time.... when you take all the neuroscience and you look at it all I swear neuroscientists say "Wow we think repetitive practice works—who does a lot of that?" And they look down that long hallway and they see therapists already doing it and having done it since the early 1900s.  And they go "Well it should be challenging. Who vectors in challenge?" And they see a therapist down there and they've been doing it since the early 1900s. And then they go, "It should be repetitive, and challenging... and it should be meaningful. Who does that? OTs do that!" So you guys are in the perfect position to leverage the great neuroscience that we have and... I swear I think neuroscientists are like jealous or maybe they're angry or—I don't know. But every time they turn around they see a therapist having done it for decades and decades and decades.  Here's what I would say... if you want to know in a neuroscience would say about rehab they'd say "We agree with everything you're doing just put it on steroids."  That's it. Don't overthink it."

EPISODE SUMMARY: This episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified brings the concepts of motor learning to light in ways everyone can understand. Pete and Deb talk about:

  • Principles of Motor Learning
  • Real life examples of what motor learning looks like
  • Reasons why Motor Learning Theory should be accessible to clinicians
  • Things that get in the way of understanding and implementing these concepts
  • The importance of meaningful activity as it relates to the brain’s ability to change
  • Enriched environments and recovery
  • How therapists are perfectly leveraged for using Motor Learning Concepts in practice

We dove pretty deep into the principles of motor learning. Pete and Deb highlighted research around difficulties with implementing these concepts and also how clinicians are already using aspects of this theory.  We discussed the roles of cognition, emotional health, and socialization related to motor learning. There are a lot of components involved and we’re sure everyone already knows this at some level. This podcast episode brings to light the fact that people can’t be reduced to component parts; rather we must incorporate all aspects of a person for optimal motor recovery.

We hope our conversation makes this important topic digestible and more understandable in ways that help you add to your practice, support or recovery.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

  1. The guy (George Bush, PhD.) who discovered where emotions are processed in the brain. 
  2. Article discussing where embarrassment is processed in the brain.
  3. Similarities in brain activation during mental practice, action observation (observing someone else do the movement, and actual movement).
  4. Kafri, M. & Atun-Elny, O. (2019). From motor learning theory to practice: A scoping review of conceptual frameworks for applying knowledge in motor learning to physical therapy practice. Oxford University Press.
  5. Dahms, C., Brodoehl, S., Witte, O. & Klinger, C. (2019). The importance of different learning stages for motor sequence learning after stroke. Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. Biomagnetic Center, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24793

CONNECT WITH US:

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

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Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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REQUEST TO BE A GUEST ON NOGGINS & NEURONS. If you’re passionate about stroke recovery and have information or a story you believe will help others, we’d love help you share it on the show. Complete the guest request form below and let’s see if we’re a good fit!   Guest Request Form

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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Stop Falling!

Saturday May 15, 2021

Saturday May 15, 2021

OVERVIEW: "Carr and Shephard are two Aussie physical therapists. They were the first to dovetail modern motor learning with rehab which was a sea change from the neurofacilitation crowd. Janet Carr, one of them, passed away in 2014. But they wrote this great book, I think it’s called, “Stroke Rehabilitation.” I think that’s what it’s called. I wrote a review on Amazon, you can read it, it’s just glowing because I just, I adore this book...But they make it very, very clear...There’s four situations in which you’re most likely to fall. And this is especially for people with brain injury, but also for anybody. Starting to walk, so right when you start the acceleration of walking; when you stop walking...you know...can you come to a full stop and not lose your balance? Turning – a whole bunch of problems with turning because you know, you have to shift your gaze constantly, you have to shift your feet constantly...and then uneven surfaces. So when you’re out walking and you’re thinking “Wow, I don’t want to be afraid of walking, I want to get out and I want to see things and I want to see people and I want to do my life, think about those four situations - When you start walking, when you stop walking, when you’re turning and then any sort of uneven surfaces – be really hyper-focused on those four situations."

EPISODE SUMMARY: This episode of NOGGINS & NEURONS: Stroke and TBI Recovery Simplified is all about not falling...Pete and Deb talk about helping people not to fall. We started and ended with the rabbit hole topic of Deb’s anthropology degree and bipedalism – super fun part of the conversation! Climbing out of the hole, Pete and Deb then talked about:

  • The relationship of medications to fall and the Paper Bag Test
  • Risk factors for falls in stroke survivors
  • Downward health spiral that can occur if survivors fall
  • What to do if you see someone fall
  • Home safety tips for fall prevention

This meaningful conversation gets into the literature, preventing falls, the negative impact of fear of falling, assessments and home safety. We share tips and tricks from the PT and OT perspectives. We hope survivors, caregivers and clinicians all find value in this conversation.

As always, we want to hear your top takeaways!

LINKS TO ARTICLES, BOOKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

  1. Fall Risk Assessment Tool - Johns Hopkins Medicine  
  2. Xu, T., Clemson, L., O’Loughlin, K., Lannin, N., Dean, C., & Koh, G. (2018). Risk factors for falls in community stroke survivors: A systematic review and meta analysis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 99:563-573.
  3. Cho, K., Yu, J., & Rhee, H. (2015). Risk factors related to falling in stroke patients: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 27: 1751-1753.

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CONNECT WITH US:

Questions and Comments about the podcast: NogginsAndNeurons@gmail.com

DONATE TO NOGGINS & NEURONS:

Donate to Noggins And Neurons and get an Allstar Pete Trading Card

Using your PayPal app:

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RESOURCES:

MUSIC:

“Soft Inspiration” by Scott Holmes/Scott Holmes Music/scottholmesmusic.com

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