Stronger After Stroke [Paperback]

Peter G. Levine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

<DIV>Billions of dollars are spent each year researching stroke rehabilitation and treatment techniques, but most are not well communicated to patients or caregivers. As a result, many stroke survivors are treated with outdated or ineffective therapies. Stronger After Stroke puts the power of recovery in the reader s hands by providing easy instructions for reaching the highest possible level of healing. Written for stroke survivors, their caregivers, and their loved ones, the book presents a new approach that is startling in its simplicity: stroke survivors recover by using the same learning techniques that anyone uses to master anything. Basic concepts are covered, including repetition of task-specific movements, proper scheduling of practice, challenges at each stage of recovery, and setting goals and recognizing achievements. Stronger After Stroke bridges the gap between stroke survivors and what they desperately need: easily understandable and scientifically accurate information on how to achieve optimal rehabilitation.</div>

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A Selection of the American Stroke Association's 2009 Annual Summer Reading List

"The subjects covered in detail in this book are not commonly found in other consumer health books on the subject of stroke; therefore, it would make a good addition to most consumer health collections."--CAPHIS, Medical Library Association

"This is an extremely important book...It is a truly inspirational accomplishment and it will significantly improve the lives of all those who are affected by stroke. [Levine] makes the new and increasingly accepted therapeutic principle that - the mind can change the brain - come alive for the very population of people who can benefit from it most. It is a wonderful achievement!"-- Jeffrey M. Schwartz, M.D., Author of The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force

"Stroke survivors and their families have a fine guide to recovery in STRONGER AFTER STROKE, an excellent survey of basic concepts of the process of recovery after a stroke. From special challenges at different stages of recovery to basic concepts of setting goals and passing hurdles, STRONGER AFTER STROKE provides a powerful roadmap to recovery and is a top pick for any general-interest or health collection."" -- California Bookwatch

"At last! A stroke researcher guide that stroke survivors and their families can take home with them - Stronger after Stroke: Your Roadmap to Recovery is a stroke survivor's guide for recovery that places the stroke survivor in charge of the choices they will make towards their personal goals and growth"--Cleo Hutton, LPN, Author of After a Stroke: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier and Striking Back at Stroke: A Doctor-Patient Journal

"This book can serve as positive inspiration for patients with stroke that will face such a long and arduous journey."--Lisa Lombardo, editor ADVANCE for Physical Therapists and PT Assistants

"...researcher with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Cincinnati presents a more effective treatment philosophy."-- ForeWord Magazine

"This inspirational volume is written specifically for stroke survivors and their caregivers. It presents an upbeat, empowering and hopeful message that urges stroke survivors not to accept the status quo of stroke rehabilitation but to expect more and be actively invested in achieving optimal outcomes. Not only do I believe this tome should be required reading for stroke survivors, I think it should be required reading for all OTs and rehabilitation professionals." --Deborah E. Budash, MA, OTR/L, Advance for Occupational Therapy Practitioners.

(Deborah "Budash, MA, OTR/L" dvance for Occupational Therapy Practitioners. 20100503)

About the Author

<DIV>Peter G. Levine is co-director of the Neuromotor Recovery and Rehabilitation Laboratory, and a researcher with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cincinnati Academic Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Levine has been involved in stroke-specific rehabilitation research for almost a decade and has been published in journals and magazines, including the National Stroke Association s StrokeSmart. Levine also writes a monthly column in Advance for Physical Therapists and conducts workshops throughout the US in the area of stroke rehabilitation and neuroplasticity.</div>

Product Details

• Paperback: 215 pages
• Publisher: Demos Health; 1 edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932603743
• ISBN-13: 978-1932603743
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Diseases & Physical Ailments > Strokes
  • #53 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Diseases & Physical Ailments > Nervous System

More About the Author

Peter G. Levine

Email: [e-mail]

Peter is the director of SynapsTogether, LLC, an organization dedicated to finding and reporting on the best systems for driving cortical plasticity.

For more than a decade Peter has been involved in stroke-specific clinical research as a Research Associate first in the Human Performance & Motion Analysis Laboratory at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, and more recently as a Research Associate and Co-Director of the Neuromotor Recovery and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Cincinnati's College of Allied Health Sciences.

Peter
* is the author of Stronger After Stroke (Demos Medical, 2008)
* has co-authored more than 60 articles and abstracts (most stroke-specific) published in peer-reviewed journals
* writes a monthly column on stroke recovery in ADVANCE for Physical Therapy & Rehab Medicine
* is a frequent speaker on the subject of stroke recovery and neuroplasticity.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 63 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Stronger After Stroke is a motivational, insirational, practicel and all-inclsive book that every stroke survivor should read! October 17, 2008

By Kathy Spencer

Format:Paperback

Stronger After Stroke is motivational, inspirational, insightful, practical and all inclusive! Every stroke survivor should read this book. The author states that if after your stroke, you've accepted your decline the book isn't for you. It's for survivors who want to get better!

It's refreshing to read a book that focuses on recovery rather than adapting one's lifestyle to the stroke. The author states throughout the book that the most important person in the recovery process is the survivor and that it takes hard work for possibly years. One must persevere with patience and never give up. Our brains have the ability to rewire but it takes repetitive, meaningful movements for that rewiring to take place. Levine explains how the brain works and how recovery works with specific tasks to aid in recovery.

We have to take charge of our own recovery. Levine suggests we need to be researchers and read up on the latest stroke recovery research and lists websites to do that research. He also believes survivors would benefit from clinical trials. A large portion of the book is about different treatment options. I really like the author's descriptions of so many varied treatment options. There are wonderful suggestions of what to do in addition to regular therapy.

Another large portion of the book has specific exercises and strategies for recovery that can be done at home. They are practical, easily understood and great suggestions. The author states that recovery takes motivation - people who are motivated make progress but one has to stay motivated when the going gets tough. Setting goals, measuring progress and celebrating every step of progress is crucial and writing it down on a calendar helps us keep track. I love the way he explains terms stroke survivors hear but may not understand. He even included a glossary in the back of the book.

Levine provides tips for caregivers, suggests ways to prevent another stroke, and explains spacsticity and what to do about it. He discusses pros and cons of medications and what to talk about with your doctor. We all deserve quality of life and the author suggests several ways to achieve that but emphasizes it takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

Lastly, Levine discusses many of the recovery machines on the market. He lists the names and websites and what each machine does. This is extremely helpful and a must for stroke survivors. Clinical trials are available and free!

Stronger After Stroke is an all-inclusive book, as you can see. I'm a stroke survivor and have done just about everything Levine suggests. It's been three years and I have gained most everything back. It took 18 months of therapy every day to get my right hand working and was well worth it. His book is an invaluable tool that every stroke survivor, caregiver, physical therapist, occupational therapist and doctor should read. The book is a God-send.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Promising, Uplifting Stroke Book Yet!! January 26, 2009

By Nancy Hoffman

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

My husband had a stroke in June 2008. I think I have read just about everything on the subject. THIS book has been OUR favorite, by far. It just matches our recovery philosophy very well and we have learned LOTS of things that no doctor or therapist has taken the time to share with us.

If you are a MOTIVATED survivor who doesn't mind working for your recovery, this book will give you lots of ideas, hope, and the knowledge that you have been on the right track all along.

Good luck!!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Most informative stroke recovery book on the market! January 30, 2009

By Stephanie R. Wolfram

Format:Paperback

I wish this book would have been available after I stroked in April of '07. I read and researched so much about stroke from many different sources. This book covers it all in one place and is for the motivated stroke survivor. It is definitely a "must read" for stroke survivors, caregivers, and their family/friends. I rate it the highly coveted 5 stars.