Neuroplasticity, strokes and occupational therapy go together like peanut butter and jelly. They all need each other to help maximize the outcomes and occupational performance of our patients (or in the case of the sandwich, just taste delicious ????).
Crystal Cabrera MS OTR/L and Certified Stroke Rehab Specialist shares the research on how to step up our games as occupational therapy practitioners by integrating the 10 Principles of Neuroplasticity into our practice.
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→ 3 Key Takeaways
1. Print off the 10 Principles of Neuroplasticity pdf so you can review them with your patients and get off on the right track!
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2. Even though the principles are research supported, there is no concrete definition of “how much” each of these need to be done to maximize recovery.
3. Occupational therapy practitioners can integrate these principles into their practice today, without extra training.
Resources From the Show:
- Learn about the research being done with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to improve outcomes with patients that have had a stroke.
- Learn more about occupational therapy certifications, including the Certified Stroke Rehab Specialist, that Crystal has completed.
- Pop over here to dig into principles #4 and 5 (Repetition and Intensity) a little more intensely
- Here is how we can help our patients with a stroke be resilient, stay positive and tackle depressive symptoms.
Connect with Crystal on Instagram
References:
Carey, L., Walsh, A., Adikari, A., Goodin, P., Alahakoon, D., De Silva, D., et al. (2019). Finding the Intersection of Neuroplasticity, Stroke Recovery, and Learning: Scope and Contributions to Stroke Rehabilitation. Neural Plasticity, 2019, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/
Doidge, N. (2017). The brain that changes itself: Stories of personal triumph from the frontiers of brain science. Penguin Books.
Evidence-Based Review of Stroke Rehabilitation. 18th Edition (2016). Retrieved from http://www.ebrsr.com/
Horton, J.C., Fahle, M., Mulder, T. et al. (2017). Adaptation, perceptual learning, and plasticity of brain functions. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 255: 435. https://doi.org/10.1007/
Kleim, J. A., & Jones, T. A. (2008). Principles of Experience-Dependent Neural Plasticity: Implications for Rehabilitation After Brain Damage. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 51, S225-S239.
Mental Practice for Stroke Recovery: Using the Mind to Reclaim Movement. (2019, July 24). Retrieved from https://www.saebo.com/mental-
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1 thought on “Neuroplasticity after a Stroke: Use the research to get results in OT”
This article on neuroplasticity after a stroke is insightful and well-researched. The breakdown of the 10 principles of neuroplasticity offers a clear and practical approach for occupational therapy practitioners to enhance patient recovery. A valuable resource for anyone in neuro rehab!