Movement and Rehab Archives - Page 4 of 6

Stroke: Critical Tips (0-3 months)

by Tara Tobias | Mar 5, 2021 | Movement and Rehab

Stroke survivors often suffer from a myriad of complications after their stroke. In an effort to help you get the most out of your rehab (and reach your maximum potential) there are some critical tips and/or “foundational” points of emphasis. Things you didn’t...

Clonus: Causes and Treatment

by Tara Tobias | Feb 10, 2021 | Movement and Rehab

Clonus is an involuntary, rhythmic muscle contraction followed by a relaxation. It is a sign that there is damage to the brain and/or the spinal cord (upper motor neuron). More specifically, the part of the nervous system that controls movement (descending motor...

Abnormal Muscle Synergies after a Stroke or Brain Injury

by Tara Tobias | Dec 20, 2020 | Movement and Rehab

Abnormal muscle synergies are one of the most common “movement problems” after a stroke or brain injury. What is an abnormal muscle synergy? A flexor synergy is when the hip, knee, and ankle all flex at the same time (visualize drawing your knee into your...

Hemiplegia: Fix a side bent trunk

by Tara Tobias | Dec 1, 2020 | Movement and Rehab

Hemiplegia (weakness on one side of the body) can cause an unnatural “side bent” posture. This is sometimes also referred to as lateral trunk flexion. What is a “side bent” posture (lateral trunk flexion) with hemiplegia? A side bent posture is...

5 Problems that Lead to Circumduction

by Tara Tobias | Oct 20, 2020 | Movement and Rehab

Circumduction is a “walking problem” that is characterized by the leg swinging out to the side. This is typically a compensatory strategy to prevent someone from catching the foot on the ground. Before we dive into what might be causing you to swing the leg around the...

Movement Retraining when dealing with Spasticity

by Tara Tobias | Sep 16, 2020 | Movement and Rehab

Spasticity is an involuntary muscle contraction due to damage to the brain or spinal cord. This can cause muscle stiffness and pain. Additionally, involuntary muscle contractions cause the body to move in ways that feel out of one’s control. This is turn can create...