Stroke

Cerebral Vascular Accident

Getting You on the Path to Recovery

Strokes can have a major impact on your daily life. Recovery from a stroke does not stop after a hospital or inpatient rehab stay. It is imperative to continue physical and  occupational therapy in order to maximize improvement for overall independence and safety (and the sooner the better)! However, no matter when you had your stroke, improvements are possible.

Our neurological physical & occupational therapists can help lead you to a rewarding life by addressing your individual impairments and concerns after having a stroke. Our Lancaster West office has one of the only outpatient Certified Stroke Rehab Specialists (CSRS) in Lancaster County.

Our Services

Medical treatment following a stroke varies. Our specialized neurological physical & occupational therapists create a customized plan for each patient to improve function and movement. Our staff can also help determine if durable medical equipment or orthoses would be beneficial and offer guidance to prevent further problems that can occur after a stroke.

Your therapist will help you with the following:

  • Balance
  • Arm & Leg Movements
  • Stability
  • Endurance
  • Transfers
  • Walking

Treatment may include:

  • Trialing AFOs to determine the best fit to improve walking speed and safety.
  • Personalized moderate to high intensity aerobic training that mobilizes neural mechanisms in the brain which create new pathways to help movement and muscle activation.
  • Functional Electrical Stimulation to increase muscle recruitment during training which can improve both walking with foot drop and movement after Botox injections.
  • Use of LiteGait to relearn basic walking skills, increase strength and endurance, and promote neuroplasticity.
  • PNF training to improve gait and increase coordination of movements.
  • Use of external verbal & visual cues during movement exercises to improve balance and overall motor performance.

To learn more about Strokes, common causes and treatments, please view our Blog.

 

There are millions of ischemic stroke survivors who continue to live with hand or arm impairment, but there hope is for people who may have thought that their recovery is over.

What is Vivistim?

Vivistim is a neurostimulation device that pairs Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) with your rehabilitation therapy and daily activities.  This pairing strengthens the brain connections needed to improve hand and arm function.  It’s the first and only system of its kind, and is proven safe and efffective.

  • Patients have 2 – 3 x’s more hand and arm function compared to conventional rehab alone.
  • 98% of Vivistim users were satisfied
  • Approved by the FDA as safe and effective

How Does it Work?

Once the system is placed by your physician and you are cleared for rehab therapy it will help you to increase natural neural plasticity and help you regain your hand and arm movements.

During rehab exercises and at-home activities, you can activate Vivistim to gently stimulate the brain via the vagus nerve.  Most users don’t feel the stimulation, but feel a noticeable improvement in had & arm function.  This boost to the brain helps strengthen and create new neural pathways, like building a new bridge to bypass the damaged area.

Our neuro PT & OT team are the first therapists in Lancaster County chosen and trained by Vivistim to evaluate patients to see if they are a good candidate for this therapy, as well as for therapy after the stimulator has been implanted.  A qualified neuro specialist is required for rehabilitation.

To learn more about Vivistim CLICK HERE.

If you would like to schedule a FREE screening by our team to see if you are a candidate please see the form below.

 

 

 

We offer a FREE Neurological Physical and Occupational therapy screen for people who have had a stroke to determine if they are good candidates for therapy and /or advanced technology for neuro recovery. Screenings are free and by appointment only.

WHO QUALIFIES?

People who have had a stroke (recent or years ago) but still experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Residual weakness on one of both sides
• Limited mobility or inability to walk
• Cognitive deficits from the stroke
• Trouble completing daily tasks such as bathing or getting dressed
• Frequent falls
• Increased weakness or decline in functionality (especially if following an illness, infection or fall)

 

WHY GET A SCREEN?

Recovery from a stroke is a life-long process.   Recovery occurs the greatest in the first 6 months after having a stroke, but with proper rehabilitation, a stroke survivor can see continuing improvement for years. A guiding principle is neuroplasticity. Growing evidence suggests the brain and spinal cord have the ability to ‘rewire’ which can lead to functional return. This leads to hope for people with neurological conditions and more potential for recovery. HARTZ has teamed up with Vivistim, a vagal nerve stimulator company, to maximize these neuroplastic conditions in the brain.  Vivistim has been FDA approved for upper extremity recovery for people post stroke.

This is a FREE screening and takes approximately 30-minutes .  It includes the completion of your history and an informational questionnaire followed by 1:1 time with the therapists. If you are interested in a screen please fill out the form below and one of our therapist will call you.

 

We invite you to reach out to Jamie Hreniuk,DPT at our Lancaster West office to discuss treatment models and her neurological experience. You can reach Jamie at 717-735-8880 or jhreniuk@hartzpt.com.