let's review what i've done thus far!

Hi there! It’s THERAPY TUESDAY again & it’s not Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. I hope you had a safe & happy & healthy holiday! Welcome 2019!!

Today I want to first take some time to review with you what I’ve shared so far since I started this website & introduced my personal therapies. I listed for myself what I have posted on my website & below is a summary.

So far, in the 3 months that I’ve been sharing therapy ideas with you, I’ve done 16 separate therapy-related posts. I try to keep it to Therapy Tuesdays - so that’s about right!  Here is the summary...

Legs/Feet        5 posts    Even though I’ve spent less time sharing exercises with you on my legs/feet, I’ve accomplished standing/walking quicker than my arm movement. This is probably because I have to walk, using both legs/feet, to get anywhere!! So while I am not “exercising,” I am “exercising” my legs/feet!!

Arms/Hands    8 posts     I need to incorporate more (not just quantity, but quality) arm/hand therapy to get similar results as my right leg/foot. I understand that the brain has to connect with the physical side - now I am going back to working on that more & more!! I am becoming more of a “left-hander” & so I think I should be able to become more of a “right-hander!” I just have to engage more of my brain!!

Combo        1 post    This is my use of the walker for walking & it also works my wrist! When I posted it, one of the guys I used to work with, who also suffered an early stroke, commented on my improved gait & speed!! (And how quick the improvement is taking place!!)

Other            2 posts     One of these was my very first - how I got here - what my ailments are. The other is a Warm-Up therapy that I do in the morning & throughout the day. It’s what I call Kisses - to warm up my arm/elbow & then Leg Pedal to warm up my legs.

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I also want to let you know that I am doing other exercises that I haven’t shared yet but will do so. Things such as working with lifting & dropping a Golf Ball into my lap (placing a blanket on my lap). I use a golf ball because it is the correct size, correct weight & it has excellent sentimental value!  It works my fingers in my right (affected) hand. I do this every evening when I’m watching Jeopardy & Wheel of Fortune. The other day I managed to actually lift my right arm by itself & pick a golf ball out of a 4” x 4” x 4" box - raise it up (by itself) - & then drop it back into the box! I repeated this exercise 10 times & made sure my brain was paying full attention!  

Another exercise I am doing is Walking Barefoot!!  I walk barefoot in the bathroom before & after I shower to get the feeling in my right leg/foot of walking without the AFO on!! This also retrains my brain that my right leg (especially my right calf) & foot can walk like they used to before my stroke!! Even last night I walked barefoot on the carpet - 10 times around our big bed!! This really allows my right leg/foot (& brain) to retrain themselves!! Tom was behind me every step of the way to act as support if I needed any!! I cannot believe I did 10 trips around the bed!! We are adding that to my list of daily therapies!!

And, I have other ideas to share with you - not just therapy, per se, but things that work as “therapy.” I will introduce my Cleaning (scrubbing, for example, or making the bed every morning which involves bending and stretching), Doing Laundry (including hanging & folding clothes fropm the dryer) & Doing Dishes.

Sometimes when I stop doing ALL the therapies, for example the leg therapies (such as the Chair Raise-Ups) we notice that my right leg shows tire & lack of coordination. That simply means I cannot stop any of these therapies/exercises AT ALL!!

I am also revisiting the exercises I did before I started my website.  I will add back those that are helpful & I will include them in Therapy Tuesdays!

One of the very important matters that I addressed in my earlier discharge from the hospital(s) that I want to address again is …

BRAIN SPECIFIC MATTERS - This is something I really need to focus on again - MY BRAIN!!  My short-term memory is getting better but has a way to go. My speech is getting much better - at least many peaple are telling me so. I can read & follow directions. I want to start really figuring out what "level" I am currenrly at & can get to.
What I did before that I will resume again now - (1) Reading Outloud Fast, (2) Face Exercises (on an app - I'll find it again), (3) do Lumosity (I'll find that again), and (4) do CT (another APP which we are buying again).  I will share each of these 4 with you in greater detail as I get more to share!

God Bless, Peg
“Take baby steps, and keep going.” -- (Quote - source unknown to me)





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