Rehab Tips from a Non Expert- The 1% Solution
I am certainly not an expert in rehab therapy by any stretch of the imagination. Each stroke and the subsquent damage done is
as unique as the individual. My three and a half years as a survivor has given me an understanding of what it takes to improve
a non- responsive left side, at least from my personal point of view. My range post stroke has taken me from total paralysis to sharing
typing this with both hands. I am not bragging though, in fact typing with my left was one of my least favorite activities even before
my stroke. It certainly is not at the top of my favorite things now.
After speaking with hundreds of fellow survivors, I have come to harbor the belief that everyone not attached to life support has
the ability to improve. How much is unknown to all but the Almighty and the will and determination of the person.
I like to suggest you strive for a 1% improvement. per week regardless of the task.
I realize 1% does not sound like much nor would it be easy to measure. 10 % would be much easier to measure, So then just do
about 10% 0f 10%. In other words just do a tiny bit more of whatever you are trying to do.
Being paraylzed, confused, sick, disoriented and scared it would be easy to" throw in the towel" and just give up. I felt like that myself.
I suggest when you are inudated with all of the aforementioned negative feelings and emotions that you take a nap without delay.
After a stroke your mind and your body for that matter, need as much rest as possible. Provide this required ingredient always.
Upon awakening fresh and rejuvenated, it is now time to work on that 1%. If you're typing 100 words, type one word with your affected
hand is 1%. Squeeze a foam ball, apply deodorant, turn a doorknob, hold your toothbrush, rub shampoo in your hair, turn on a
light switch all with your affected hand.
Do the same for your legs. Keep doing it until after one week you have improved about 1%
That"s not much but it"s huge.
Say you were able to actually improve 1% a week, what is that over a month? With four weeks in a month @1% a week improvement
that is 4% a month. Now you are beginning to see measurable improvements
Use this same.template for 3 months and you now have a 12% improvement. even if you slipped a tiny bit, you should still see a
10% improvement over a three month time. Not bad huh?
Those three months are going to come and go whether you are improving or having a pity party. Why not take the improvement route?
It works, I do it all the time. It works for everything. Unless you are a finely tuned athlete where you are at your total peak potential
already, you can improve. 1% a week is certainly doable.
So let's start doing it. Let's all do it. Let's all get on the 1% bandwagon. Let's talk about it and post it.
Perhaps you can place your hand on a table and force something between your fingers to open what previously wouldn't open before.
Do this every day for a week. What if you failed miserably and moved it only 1/2% of 1% well at the end of three months you still
accomplished a 6% gain. What have you got to lose by trying?
Bob Miller
The Stroke Coach
Strokes Suck
Strokes Suck on Facebook
Strokes Suck UK
as unique as the individual. My three and a half years as a survivor has given me an understanding of what it takes to improve
a non- responsive left side, at least from my personal point of view. My range post stroke has taken me from total paralysis to sharing
typing this with both hands. I am not bragging though, in fact typing with my left was one of my least favorite activities even before
my stroke. It certainly is not at the top of my favorite things now.
After speaking with hundreds of fellow survivors, I have come to harbor the belief that everyone not attached to life support has
the ability to improve. How much is unknown to all but the Almighty and the will and determination of the person.
I like to suggest you strive for a 1% improvement. per week regardless of the task.
I realize 1% does not sound like much nor would it be easy to measure. 10 % would be much easier to measure, So then just do
about 10% 0f 10%. In other words just do a tiny bit more of whatever you are trying to do.
Being paraylzed, confused, sick, disoriented and scared it would be easy to" throw in the towel" and just give up. I felt like that myself.
I suggest when you are inudated with all of the aforementioned negative feelings and emotions that you take a nap without delay.
After a stroke your mind and your body for that matter, need as much rest as possible. Provide this required ingredient always.
Upon awakening fresh and rejuvenated, it is now time to work on that 1%. If you're typing 100 words, type one word with your affected
hand is 1%. Squeeze a foam ball, apply deodorant, turn a doorknob, hold your toothbrush, rub shampoo in your hair, turn on a
light switch all with your affected hand.
Do the same for your legs. Keep doing it until after one week you have improved about 1%
That"s not much but it"s huge.
Say you were able to actually improve 1% a week, what is that over a month? With four weeks in a month @1% a week improvement
that is 4% a month. Now you are beginning to see measurable improvements
Use this same.template for 3 months and you now have a 12% improvement. even if you slipped a tiny bit, you should still see a
10% improvement over a three month time. Not bad huh?
Those three months are going to come and go whether you are improving or having a pity party. Why not take the improvement route?
It works, I do it all the time. It works for everything. Unless you are a finely tuned athlete where you are at your total peak potential
already, you can improve. 1% a week is certainly doable.
So let's start doing it. Let's all do it. Let's all get on the 1% bandwagon. Let's talk about it and post it.
Perhaps you can place your hand on a table and force something between your fingers to open what previously wouldn't open before.
Do this every day for a week. What if you failed miserably and moved it only 1/2% of 1% well at the end of three months you still
accomplished a 6% gain. What have you got to lose by trying?
Bob Miller
The Stroke Coach
Strokes Suck
Strokes Suck on Facebook
Strokes Suck UK
A friend of mine did stroke research for a number of years and they disproved that once a stroke survivor reaches a certain number of years, that's it, now they know better plus they have photo's of the opposite side of the brain firing to take over duties from the damaged side so they know repetition will bring about changes too.
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What a great way to measure improvement. Funny, 1% doesn't seem like a lot. However, once you begin to compound it over time the progress is significant. If anyone questions that imagine if we were speaking of the ROI of money at 1% and gaining as the days went on. I'd take it! I'll also take it with the tasks I am committed to.
Great Post!
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