Thank you for tuning in! If you missed it live, this was my follow-up to the previous podcast episode entitled, Why Balance Breaks After a Stroke on Episode 25.
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On Episode 26 of Believe in Balance:
I covered the 2026 AHA/ASA Guideline for Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery which outlines nine key priorities for physical therapists including fall prevention:
Summary Tips for PT:
Early Mobilization: Progress mobility gradually during the acute stage (24-48 hours). Avoid high-dose, intense exertion in the hyper-acute stage (under 24 hours) to prevent neurological deterioration.
Fall Prevention: Conduct fall-risk evaluations immediately after a stroke and annually thereafter to establish targeted prevention programs.
Assessment Tools: Utilize objective clinical measures (e.g., standardized movement and balance tests) alongside real-world data from wearable sensors to track recovery.
Exercise Prescription: Design individually tailored programs targeting at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic training per week, plus 2-3 days of strength and balance training.
Walking Training: Prioritize high-dose, task-specific walking training in the subacute and chronic stages. Body-weight supported treadmills and robot-assisted technology do not yield better walking outcomes than task-specific training and incur higher costs.
Foot Drop Management: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems are as effective for walking improvements as traditional ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs).
Care Access & Lifestyle: Utilize home-health and telerehabilitation when outpatient clinic access is limited. Support patient engagement in recreational activities to promote social and psychological health.
Mentions:
Believe in Balance Course https://achievebalance.substack.com/s/believe-in-balance
Closure After Stroke Book Update
