KISSES & LEG pEDDLER

Before I start any exercises of the day, I must warm up my arms & my legs from sleeping a minimum of 8 hours. While I am still in bed I make sure I stretch as much as I can - mostly my arms, my legs, my core & whatever seems stiff. For example, I be sure to move my legs so that I lift them into a knee-bent position. I also bring my arm over my body.  As I lie in bed, as best I can, I pull my arm over my body from lying next to my side (my arm, that is) across to its opposite shoulder, & then back to its side again. I do this without touching my body with my arm. Then when I am ready to get out of bed and stand up, I make sure that I allow blood and oxygen to flow through my body from top to bottom. This is when I first begin to start doing some kisses before I start walking out to my “comfy” chair for my actual kisses & leg pedaling. Now I’m ready to walk over from my bedroom to my great-room to really warm up with my actual kisses & leg pedaling.

KISSES - INSTRUCTIONS

1. Sit in a comfortable chair.
2. If you need the support (as I do), grip your affected arm at wrist level.
3. Straighten affected arm completely out - in front of you forward.
4. Bend affected arm at elbow & lift to your mouth so you can “kiss” your thumb.
5. Straighten affected arm completely out - in front of you forward.
6. Repeat 25 times.

After you have managed to do this 25 times with no pain, you are ready to lift your affected arm even higher when you are reaching at your face. Start by touching your thumb to your forehead. Once you have that accomplished, try touching the top of your scalp! Eventually this will help you wash your hair with that affected arm/hand again!!

As I have said before, and I’ll say it again & again, if you are just starting out - post-stroke - you will probably need someone to support your movement and help you when necessary. Even if you have reached the point of physical independence after your stroke, it is still nice to have someone supporting you emotionally and mentally through these exercises.

And, again, use a mirror, it doesn’t hurt to watch your moves & improvement. 

LEG PEDALING - INSTRUCTIONS

1. Sit in a comfortable chair.
2. If you need assistance (which sometimes I still do), have someone secure both of your feet (in shoes) into the pedals of the foot peddler. (Note - the one I use is the same one that I use for me arm peddler exercise)
3. Begin to pedal as you would peddle a bicycle.  Make sure the tension is good enough for you - you want to be able to do most of the pushing & pulling with the affected leg (in my case, the right leg).
4. Pedal for a minimum of 20 minutes.​

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Be sure to check out my Instagram at “poststrokepeg.”   God Bless, Peg

"Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement." ― C.S. Lewis

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