Regaining Independence - Part 5 (What every one needs to know)

Exercise: Once a client begins to receive TCM treatment they will also begin a series of exercises to reinforce the things that are happening in their body. In this we have an unfair advantage in that Ruth, one of our founders, was the first US patient to receive TCM therapy for treatment of her stroke. Unfortunately few rehabilitation physicians, therapists, and US acupuncturists know firsthand what a stroke can do and the devastation that it wreaks and the physical, mental, and spiritual challenges that a survivor faces.

Each of our clients are evaluated, photographed and videoed upon their arrival. Because we are working with clients daily we are constantly watching progress and assessing them. Exercises are listed and given to clients to complete in their daily schedule. Personal medical assistants assist as needed and provide additional support, massage, electric acupuncture, and manual stimulation of limbs as needed. These Personal assistants are irreplaceable and help our clients greatly in their daily tasks, increasing confidence, and regaining of independence.

Every two weeks we complete a formal evaluation but we are constantly talking with clients, watching them carefully, and modifying exercises immediately to take advantage of new and improving movements and changes. This constant monitoring and involvement sets us apart from other “rehab” programs, each client is an individual and is treated as such. No two individuals and therefore no two programs are exactly the same. Each person responds differently and so exercises and tasks are uniquely provided to each individual and monitored closely by the personal assistants. Ruth found that the phrase, “been there…done that” is very powerful when it means we can think out of the box and create exercises that actually offer improvement and great results. Too often in other programs patients are given unattainable or useless exercises that produce nothing but frustration. Here results of exercises must be “demonstratable” and repeated in order for us to ask the client if the exercises are successful! Only then can we state emphatically the exercises are a true success.

---