By
in
Stroke Recovery
Great to see Michael Johnson, one of my Athletics heroes, back on TV following his stroke last year.
Being acutely aware of his body he felt irregularities during a training session so went straight to hospital. Crucially, this meant he was diagnosed, received the correct treatment & was able to begin physical therapy straight away.
Athletes are used to training hard consistently to see the smallest improvements in performance and he attributes this mindset to his successful stroke recovery. Having had to go right back to learning to stand again, before he could even contemplate walking and running, his mindset, along with support from a great team of experts around him, enabled him to take his recovery literally step by step working for the aggregation of marginal gains every day to get him back to full fitness.
Rehabilitation after a stroke can be a lifelong process. Progress in action control of limbs, speech, thought processes, movements, mobility, activities of daily living and confidence can be incredibly slow in stroke recovery. Some days will be better than others, but it is vital to stay consistent with your training efforts. Unfortunately many stroke survivors give up trying to improve further as they simply don’t believe they can. It can be done…I am currently working with an 80 year old lady who had her stroke over 40 years ago, and she is still making progress now! Keep a training diary to track improvements, no matter how small or insignificant they might seem. Be proud of achievements & never give up!
As an independant ARNI (Action for Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury) trainer, I offer an option for stroke survivors that have been discharged from hospital, or other healthcare, that want to continue their stroke recovery.
