The home exercises are probably the most important part of a rehabilitation program. That being said, you “traditional exercise equipment” might not be the most appropriate for the exercises that will help to restore normal movement patterns. I have set up many of home gyms for my patients over the years, and here is a lift of the items that I think are the most critical and the most versatile to cover a wide range of movement retraining activities.
1. Mat Table
The most important piece of equipment every stroke survivor needs is a treatment/mat table. A mat table provides a firm surface to perform exercises. Most mat tables are height adjustable making it easy for anyone at any level to transfer onto and off of.
A folding mat table is easy to store out of the way when not in use.
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2. A step stool
You can hold on to the hand to help with balance
You can also use a step stool to get on and off the floor
3. A bedside table
A heigth adjustable bed side table is also super important. The adjustable height feature allows you to support the elbow at the right height while performing are exercises.
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4. Full length Mirror
A very common problem after a stroke is for the brain to lose the ability to know where the body is in space. We call this proprioception. A mirror can be a critical tool to retrain this part of your brain. It is also valuable to make sure you are maintaining good form when you are performing your exercises.
Click here to check the price of a rolling mirror.
4. Foam Wedge
A foam wedge is great for stretching the ankles. This
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5. Nylatex Wraps
Nylatex wraps come in different sized and it can be used to hold and arm, hand, or leg. The thing that makes this type of wrap the best on the market for this purpose is that they are rubber on one side to prevent it from slipping and the velcro is second to none in keeping the straps secure.
Here is how to use this if your hand has a tendency to fall off the walker.
The nylatex wraps are also great for positioning the arm for stretches
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Equipment for Stroke Arm Exercises
Products For a Spastic Arm Having the right tools for stroke arm rehabilitation is critical. Especially for those who have spasticity. Spasticity is an involuntary muscle contraction caused by damage to the brain and/or spinal cord. In the arm it can cause...
Foam Wedges: For positioning and more
Positioning/Stretching Foam Wedge This wedge is made of dense foam with a rubber base to keep it from sliding. Uses: It can be used to position the pelvis. It can be placed under the thigh in sitting to stop the leg from rotating outward. It can be used for bridging...
Complete Guide to Buying a Wheelchair Cushion
Wheelchairs are an extremely valuable piece of equipment during the neurologic recovery process. They provide a means of getting around when walking is not safe and/or is not possible. However, they also come with the risk of developing pressure ulcers. Pressure...
Product Spotlight: This tool improves trunk alignment
Better posture means better arm rehabilitation. Period. Said another way, proper trunk alignment is essential for efficient arm movement. However, in most cases, hemiparesis (weakness on one side of the body), paraparesis (weakness on the lower half of the body), and...
Product Spotlight: Best Gait Belt to Improve Standing
A gait belt can be a critical tool to help a loved one relearn the correct way to stand. With the right gait belt, you can also help someone walk in the early stages of neurologic rehab. And that is why gait belts made its way to our latest "product spotlight"....
Product Spotlight: A step stool with handle
A step stool with a handle is one of the most seems like an odd piece of "rehab equipment", however, it is truly "worth its weight in gold". It is probably the one itemI can honestly say I use multiple times a day in my clinic. And, rarely as an actual step stool....
Product Spotlight: Stroke Arm Exercise for Spasticity
Spasticity and abnormal movement patterns can make it difficult to perform stroke arm exercise. The Urias air splint can be an invaluable tool to minimize involuntary arm contractions, reduce pain, prevent contractures, and make it one thousand times easier to manage...
Product Spotlight: #1 Walker for Parkinson’s Disease
What is the best walker for Parkinson's disease (PD)? Maybe you are not there yet. Maybe you are hesitant to even approach the idea of a walker. Well, I have you covered. After nearly 20 years of working with people living with PD, I know how you might be feeling. The...
Best Foot Drop Braces
Drop foot is when the muscles that lift the foot are not working properly. Hence, leading to the name, drop foot or foot drop. Needless, to say this can lead to difficulty walking. When I think of someone who has drop foot, my number one concern is the risk of...
Best Tools for Eating after Stroke
Being able to eat and prepare food without help after a stroke can help someone both physically and mentally. That being said, this might be challenging if you only have full use of one hand. Here are my top four picks that might help someone to start the process of...
Just got my foam wedges, got the full length mirror and nylatex wraps. I really have no place to store the mat. I also have a Bowflex machine, treadmill, e-stim, free weights, ankle weights, and any other tool that might help my recovery.
Dear dr Tobias,
A few months ago, looking in a bunch of average videos, I noticed one that stood out with an expert explanation and selection of exercises on the Orlando channel, I found many more good ones, I discarded all the others and now I only do exercises from those videos and I see improvement. I’ve reviewed all the videos, from the first short ones with text to the latest and now I’m looking forward to a new video every week. I commend the new Rehab-hq.com site, I think it covers the problems of neurological patients very well.
When I read about us, it drew me to write you this text.
Although I am an optimist, but I have often thought about where this world is going, everyone is just running for profit and self-interest, conflicts, moral crisis of society, but now my optimism returns to a better future when I see enthusiasm with which energy you share your vast knowledge and experience FREE to everyone who needs it. There have always been people who have a vision and have spared neither effort nor time for the benefit of others like Lincoln, Gandhi and many lesser known ones. Edison and Tesla worked in the same environment, profit was important to Edison, and you think like Tesla, the well-being of the environment is important to you, not just earnings. There are very few such people today. May God give you health and energy so that you can endure hard work. Thank you so much for your effort and time. Do vibrating massage chairs and shijatsu help? How to determine how many times a day and how many repetitions of exercises are needed? Is it better to exercise in the morning or before bed?
Thank you very much, best regards.
Thank you so much for your kind words. It is truly a labor of love and I am happy to do it. I am overwhelmed by the positive responses and humbled your analysis of me and my efforts. I am unworthy. As far as the vibrating chair and shiatsu massagers…if it helps with the spasticity, it is ok. However, in many cases that type of vibration can trigger a spasm. It really depends on the person. I hope that helps.
I saw a lesson where shower a device for my shoe to help keep my ankle from breaking . I suffered a intracerebral hemorragic stroke Sept. 27 2017 and I WILL WALK . I found your lessons a few months ago , your lessons really help a lot.