Are Trendy Rehab Treatments and Devices Worth It? Here’s My Honest Take
Should you be spending your hard-earned money on all those rehab devices popping up in your social media feed?
And if so, which one is actually worth it?
The truth? There are way too many gadgets and “miracle” tools out there for me (or anyone) to test them all. But honestly, a tool is just a tool. No one device is magic. What really matters is how you use it and whether it fits into the foundation of your recovery.
So instead of reviewing every new thing out there, I want to give you a simple 4-point checklist you can use to decide if a device is actually worth your time and money.
✅ 1. It Should Never Replace Movement Retraining
If you remember one thing, make it this: the brain rewires through movement.
No injection, no red light, no fancy chamber can replace that. You’ve got to do the reps.
Even if tomorrow someone invented an instant “brain repair” injection, you’d still need to retrain those neurons, kind of like rebooting an old computer and reinstalling the software. So if a device means less time for physical therapy, skip it.
✅ 2. The Risk Should Be Basically Zero
Be cautious with any intervention that changes your physiology, like oxygen chambers or stem cell injections.
Right now, there just aren’t a lot of large, high-quality studies in stroke rehab. So my rule of thumb is: if there’s no risk, and you have extra time, fine, try it. But if there’s any chance of harm, it’s not worth it.
And be careful where the study comes from. If the research was paid for or run by the company that makes the device, that’s a red flag.
✅ 3. It Shouldn’t Strain Your Finances
Here’s the deal, if you have to check your budget before buying a device, it’s not worth it. Recovery is already stressful. Don’t add financial pressure on top.
If you have the extra money and it checks the first two boxes, fine. But if buying a device means reworking your budget or stressing over bills, I’d say save your money.
There’s simply not enough evidence that any device alone can deliver major results.
✅ 4. Look for Independent Research
If a product claims to be “the best” or “a breakthrough,” but the only proof is glowing reviews from people selling it… pause. Real progress takes consistency, not shortcuts.
That doesn’t mean the product doesn’t work for anyone. Some people do see benefits. But if there’s no independent research, and all you’re seeing are testimonials, be careful.
If you decide to try something new, make sure you’re still doing your daily movement practice and tracking real progress. And if you stop improving, it might be time to move on.
The Four Pillars Before You Buy Anything
Before you even think about investing in gadgets, these four pillars have to be dialed in:
- Nutrition – Your brain needs clean fuel. If you’re eating ultra-processed foods, your body spends all its energy dealing with the junk instead of supporting brain repair.
- Movement – Get your heart rate up. More blood flow means more oxygen to the brain which means more efficient rewiring.
- Sleep – 7–9 hours of good, quality sleep lets your brain “clean house.”
- Mindset – Probably the hardest one, but it’s huge. You’ve got to accept where you are, focus on what you can do, and keep looking forward. The most successful patients I’ve seen are the ones who stay hopeful, even on tough days.
If those aren’t in place, no device in the world will make up for it.
Final Thoughts
I know how tempting it can be to hope for the one device that changes everything, but I promise you, the real magic is in consistency and repetition.
If you’re doing your therapy, taking care of your sleep, your body, and your mindset, that’s where the biggest changes happen.
And if you ever feel stuck or overwhelmed with what to focus on between therapy sessions, feel free to explore our Rehab HQ Membership Plans, to give you structure, community, and access to me and my team each month. You’ll get the same home exercises I give my in-person patients, along with Q&A sessions and monthly webinars to keep you moving forward.
👉 To learn more you can schedule a discovery call.
Keep showing up, keep doing the work, and remember, you don’t need fancy tools to make real progress.
Articles you may be interested in
The Secret to Stroke Recovery Success
"The secret to winning is learning how to lose. That is, learning to bounce back from failure and disappointment—undeterred—and continuing to steadily march toward your potential. Your response to failure determines your capacity for success." -James Clear, author of...
The Hidden Culprit: How the Latissimus Dorsi Limits Shoulder Recovery After Stroke
The Hidden Culprit: How the Latissimus Dorsi Limits Shoulder Recovery after Stroke It’s the silent barrier most people never think about. When we talk about restoring arm movement after a stroke, most of the focus is on the obvious: the shoulder joint, the triceps,...
How to Fix Knee Buckling Post Stroke
Why Your Knee Buckles—and How to Regain Control Say Goodbye to Knee Giving Way and Hello to Confident Walking https://youtu.be/wNZxiTXTz7QWhat Is Knee Buckling? Knee buckling refers to a sudden, unexpected loss of stability in the knee joint, often described as the...
Understanding and Fixing Leg Cramps Post Stroke
Clonus Explained: What It Is, Why It Happens, and What You Can Do About It Stop Letting Leg Cramps Slow Your Recovery https://youtu.be/fGNGXoMSvT4 Can Clonus Affect the Way You Walk? Absolutely—Here’s What You Need to Know Have you ever felt your foot suddenly...
Why Your Hand Still Won’t Open After Stroke | 3 Mistakes to Fix
Why Forcing It Doesn't Work How to Stop Reinforcing the Wrong Patterns and Start Rewiring Your Brain for Real Recovery https://youtu.be/fDIgGLM8Kj0If you’ve had a stroke (or other neurologic injury), and your hand feels like it’s stuck in a fist or your arm just hangs...
Understanding Abnormal Synergy Patterns After Stroke: The Missing Puzzle Piece in Recovery
Understanding Abnormal Synergy Patterns After Stroke: The Missing Puzzle Piece in Recovery Stroke recovery is rarely straightforward.You might work on strength, balance, and mobility—yet your movements still feel awkward, stiff, or “robotic.” Why?One of the most...
Why Does My Leg Flop Out When I Walk After a Stroke?
Why Does My Leg Flop Out When I Walk After a Stroke? You know the feeling.You’re walking. Or trying to walk. And then your leg just… flops out to the side.You try to correct it, but it keeps happening.Frustrating, right? Let’s break this down.You’re not alone, and...
Post-Stroke Shoulder Pain: Why It Happens and What You Can Do About It
Post-Stroke Shoulder Pain: Why It Happens and What You Can Do About It If you’ve had a stroke, chances are your shoulder has tried to steal the spotlight at some point. Not in a good way. Post-stroke shoulder pain is one of the most common (and most frustrating)...
The Pain-Avoidant Loop After Stroke: How Pain Can Stall Recovery
The Pain-Avoidant Loop After Stroke: How Pain Can Stall Recovery Pain after a stroke is real.It can be sharp, nagging, constant, or unpredictable.And it has a sneaky way of slowing down recovery in ways many people don’t realize. This is what I call the pain-avoidant...
The Cycle of Learned Non-Use
The Cycle of Learned Non-Use In the early days after a stroke, attempts to move the affected arm often fail or are painful. Naturally, the brain (and the person) adapts by relying more on the stronger, unaffected side. The result? The brain starts to “forget” the...