Customer Reviews

Stronger After Stroke: Your Roadmap to Recovery

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!!

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.

I bought this book hoping to get some useful tips to help in the recovery of my eight year old son, who suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury in 2007. I was immediately taken with the book, and how much hope it offers not only stroke patients, but also TBI patients. Thank you so much for writing a book that gives us, as caregivers, a plan of action and insight when maybe traditional therapy methods are not getting us the progress we think we can be seeing. This book reaffirms the basic principle that if there is a will, there is a way.

The book is written for people who want to take an active role in optimal recovery after they've had a stroke.

The author is very knowledgeable about stroke, rehabilitation, and the brain, and he expresses recovery concepts clearly, often repeating and rephrasing. I believe that the clear presentation of information, coupled with the restatement of important points, will be helpful to stroke patients and their families. During a stressful time, in early recovery, these readers will benefit because critical concepts are emphasized and re-emphasized.

Levine explains neuroplasticity - the brain's amazing capacity to rewire itself - and proposes exercises and measurement systems to achieve optimal recovery. He reiterates that, with perseverance and repetition, stroke patients are able to make incremental, measurable progress - often beyond medical expectations.

The book is aptly subtitled, "Your Roadmap to Recovery," as it presents a method that can be used to plan, measure, and execute - modifying as necessary - a personalized program of rehabilitation towards recovery. The book includes suggestions that will motivate a stroke patient to continue to improve, even when progress becomes more difficult to discern.

The most current information about stroke recuperation is presented, along with precautionary information to reduce risk of another stroke. Latest treatment options are discussed, including strategies for effective recovery including the use of technology, mirrors, music, and exercise. A chapter entitled "Spasticity Control and Elimination" offers information about taming that most undesirable "beast" that results from stroke.

Stronger After Stroke provides information and caveats about available "stroke recovery machines," and includes a helpful list of resources plus a glossary of terms. Despite the fact that the book suffers from very poor editing and lack of proofreading (which cost it one star in my rating), I believe that Stronger After Stroke is a valuable and necessary resource for people who have suffered strokes, their families, and their caretakers.

I am a stroke survivor who has greatly benefitted from this incredible book. this is the best book written to date that I am aware of for us stroke survivors. It really is a guidebook on the practical methods of rehabilitation that allows the stroke survivor to put the process of rehab in his or her own hands, so to speak. Essentially, improvement in recovery is a choice as outlined in Peter's book. it is a matter of long-term patience and persistence but it is possible to improve no matter how far out from a stroke one is. I would say that this book should be required reading for any therapist, Neuro Resident, stroke survivor or care-giver to better equip them to accurately educate their stroke patients during their recovery process. great job Peter! Thank you

This is by far the best rehab book I've ever read(and I've read quite a few). I am rehabbing from a brain tumor (left-sided hemiparesis), but everything in this stroke recovery book is applicable. I consider it my Bible. It verifies a lot of things I've always felt true regarding spasticity, any movement is good, etc. Unfortunately, most therapists have a very narrow view of therapy. Roadmap to Recovery explores all therapies. This book enourages you to take charge of your own recovery and gives so many helpful ideas. The author has gathered all the most up-to-date information and arranged it in an easy-to-read format. Any time you need a lift, simply refer back to this book, and you're ready to start rehabbing again. I cannot praise this book enough. You'll be happy to have found it.

"Stronger After Stroke" is easy to read and extremely motivational. The reader can tell that Peter has been invested in working with survivors and getting the most out of recovery. He gives detailed information on making a plan, current, cutting edge treatment options, exercise, controlling spasticity, and staying invested in your success. As an occupational therapist, I highly recommend this book to all my stroke survivors and have been using it as a tool for a support group. Thanks, Peter, for this excellent resource!!

I could have saved myself two years of research and asking questions if this book had come out a couple of years ago. If your doctor or therapist doesn't seem to know anything useful about stroke rehabilitation then read this book and quote it back to them. I am using the techniques described in my recovery. Ignore the ADL's, you want to go for full recovery

If you are looking for an upbeat, expert guide to fullest recover; buy this book. It is packed with the information that motivated stroke survivors, spouses, and care-givers want. Included are clearly stated instructions, suggestions and steps to take to meet your own goals. To top it off, Mr Levine can write! His style makes this an organized and enjoyable read; as well as a great reference book.