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• Lifestyle Medicine

  • Lifestyle Medicine as a rehab & recovery modality. - The "pillars" of Lifestyle Medicine are beneficial for good health in anyone, and thus are definitely apropos for Stroke Survivors.  [More topical info is coming to this description, so please be patient, ... or find a credible source to learn about Lifestyle Medicine.]  

• Acupuncture

  • ​Acupuncture - has shown that it may have the affect of hastening &/or improving stroke recovery when used in concert with other therapies such as Speech, Occupational, & Physical Therapy.  Experiences have been the sooner this complementary therapy is invoke the more likely to have higher likelihoods in efficacy.  (For those who "do not do needles" and thus have mindset to gravitate away from considering acupuncture, you need to know that acupuncture needles are approx the thickness of a human hair and because of this they are administered with assistance of an outer supporting sleeve that assists with the needle insertion.)

• T.E.N.S. Unit

  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation aka T.E.N.S. (or TENS) has application for certain conditions that occur post-stroke.  A frequent use for decades is pain management, but there are other applications.

• FSM

  • Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) is a relatively new modality, thus a "track record" of efficacy is lacking. Therapy is via utilization of a FSM unit, for which specific protocol are set to target the condition and area to receive therapy.  The FSM Unit utilizes microcurrent that is administered through 4 electrodes placed on the user's skin.  Non-invasive.

• Pandiculation

  • While not considered to be a "complementing therapy" Pandiculation is a lesser known tack in physical therapy, and thus it is listed here.
    Pandiculation vs Stretching - for persons who have muscle spasticity (stiffening and contracture), pandiculation has shown to be superior in efficacy to merely stretching.  And as a generalization sooner is better than later to prevent or lessen spasticity/contracture. 

• Yoga

  • Yoga has many different forms and there are "modifications" that an adept instructor can offer or suggest for persons who disclose their given limitations to the instructor.    The quintessential basis or yoga is "breath" for body and mind relaxation.  Therapeutic yoga, Restorative (Yin) Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Chair yoga, are among yoga types that are "easier" on the body than Active Yoga and some other types of Yoga.  Thus yoga post-stroke can be helpful in Stroke Rehab & Recovery.

• Meditation

  • Meditation and yoga share in numerous respects, a la a "Venn Diagram".  And yes, meditation can be helpful in stroke recovery.  Yes, consistency of meditation can yield higher results than occasional meditation.  But even occasional meditation can yield benefits.   There are many types of meditation, and the majority are done on an individual basis.  Another type is "diad meditation" wherein meditation in contact with another person yields "co-regulation of the nervous system".  Co-regulation of the nervous system through meditation with more than one other person is another option. 

• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

  • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - perhaps something to consider.  Some folks swear by it in assisting with stroke recovery.  A key to successful use for those who have had good results is consistency of use.  Advocates state that merely "once in a while" does not bring results that consistent use does.  

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