Deans' stroke musings: Launch of a state-of-the-art stroke rehabilitation hub in NHS Lanarkshire

Changing stroke rehab and research worldwide now.Time is Brain! trillions and trillions of neurons that DIE each day because there are NO effective hyperacute therapies besides tPA(only 12% effective). I have 523 posts on hyperacute therapy, enough for researchers to spend decades proving them out. These are my personal ideas and blog on stroke rehabilitation and stroke research. Do not attempt any of these without checking with your medical provider. Unless you join me in agitating, when you need these therapies they won't be there.

What this blog is for:

My blog is not to help survivors recover, it is to have the 10 million yearly stroke survivors light fires underneath their doctors, stroke hospitals and stroke researchers to get stroke solved. 100% recovery. The stroke medical world is completely failing at that goal, they don't even have it as a goal. Shortly after getting out of the hospital and getting NO information on the process or protocols of stroke rehabilitation and recovery I started searching on the internet and found that no other survivor received useful information. This is an attempt to cover all stroke rehabilitation information that should be readily available to survivors so they can talk with informed knowledge to their medical staff. It lays out what needs to be done to get stroke survivors closer to 100% recovery. It's quite disgusting that this information is not available from every stroke association and doctors group.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Launch of a state-of-the-art stroke rehabilitation hub in NHS Lanarkshire

Still pretty worthless; 'guidelines' NOT PROTOCOLS!

Launch of a state-of-the-art stroke rehabilitation hub in NHS Lanarkshire

Current state of play

Recently published Stroke rehabilitation guidelines recommend delivery of three hours of rehabilitation per day to optimise motor recovery post stroke¹. However, the amount of stroke rehabilitation currently delivered is well below this recommended amount². Addressing this rehabilitation shortfall is critical to ensure stroke survivors are supported to reach their optimum levels of recovery.

Technology-enriched rehabilitation

Led by Dr Andy Kerr and Professor Philip Rowe in the Department of Biomechanical Engineering, the University of Strathclyde have developed an innovative programme of research investigating the feasibility of employing ‘Technology-Enriched Rehabilitation Hubs’ (TERHS) to enable stroke survivors to access the rehabilitation they need at the frequency they require.

State of the art stroke rehabilitation hub in NHS Lanarkshire

Image used with thanks to University of Strathclyde

In partnership with NHS Lanarkshire, the team have launched a state-of-the-art Technology Enriched Rehabilitation Hub at the stroke unit at University Hospital Wishaw. The Hub is equipped with, “a range of integrated technology, including virtual reality treadmills, power-assisted equipment, balance trainers and upper limb training systems. The technology also incorporates ‘gamification’, such as virtual reality, puzzles and problem-solving activities, which helps to enrich the environment and improves the engagement with and response to therapy”³.

Led by Dr Andy Kerr and Dr Gillian Sweeney (Advanced Practice Occupational Therapist, NHS Lanarkshire) and supported by funding from Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland, a research project is underway to investigate the impact of the Hub on levels of rehabilitation provided and stroke survivor recovery.

“Due to limited resources, NHS services are currently unable to provide recommended levels of rehabilitation to people following a stroke. This innovative model offers a way of providing higher intensity of rehabilitation out with the traditional one to one therapy. Participants often report benefits to group-based therapy, which they feel can offer peer support and increase motivation.”
Gillian Sweeney