Restoring Gait and Balance is Only the Tip of the Iceberg in Stroke Recovery
David Dansereau
Founder / Consulting PT @ SmartMovesPT | Connecting Health Through Better Measurement ????Management ???? Movement ????
Last week it was my pleasure to be a guest on Brains with Brian as part of a neuroscience interview series with host Brian Harris of MedRhythms, Inc. and discuss my stroke recovery. While I gave the typical answers that physical therapists give about walking leading to meaningful independence, and gait possibly being considered a "6th vital sign" for assessing functional status, predicting longevity, overall health and comorbidities, and even fall risks in a wide range of populations, there are so many more benefits of restoring gait and balance we didn't have time to discuss.
There are also many more obstacles and unmet needs stroke survivors face once they begin their recovery we didn't dive into due to time constraints. I'll summarize in the graphic below why I feel restoring walking recovery is only the tip of the iceberg on the journey for most survivors and their families.
All the obstacles that remain below the surface once survivors are back on their feet and discharged to go home still have to be addressed. Everything in red below the iceberg indicates some of the biggest unmet needs stroke survivors face.
We know we can't address them all at once, but we need to put in the reps to work at each and every challenge. Walking is the starting line and is meaningful for sure. Walking and increased activity are often the gateway to begin to start the brain reps on the other challenges and adopt healthy behaviors as confidence grows with increased independence.
Deep Dive: The Importance of Walking After Stroke on Brains With Brian
What does restoring walking means to a 14 year old girl after a stroke?
It means possibly fitting in at school better, being able to cross the street to get on the bus, not having to be looked at as "different" in the hallway, or being late for class, or having to wait for a friend to help her. It means independence.
What does restoring walking mean for a 58 year old father that had a stroke?
It means being there to walk your daughter down the aisle at her wedding, or returning to work, or being able to maintain the home duties that make him feel so proud and valued. It means independence.
What does restoring walking mean to a 33 year old active woman who had a stroke?
It means getting back on the golf course to putt around and meet up with her friends, being able to go for strolls with her loved ones, or meet friends for coffee to lift her mood and break the isolation of being home alone. It means independence.
What does restoring walking mean to your 78 year old grandfather after a stroke?
It means he might be able to remain safe in his own home, it means he may be able to keep caring for and walking his beloved dog, it means perhaps other things related to that 6th vital sign too, but mostly it certainly signifies to him he is still independent.
What did walking mean to the then 39 year old me after my stroke?
It meant, with lots of walking practice, I wouldn't wake my wife up in the middle of the night with my foot dragging across the floor, it meant I could still get my 3 young children to the bus stop and be there waiting for them after school, it meant a foundation to build on as the first steps to return to running a marathon, along with some meaninfgul rhythm to pick up my gait. It meant independence to me then, as it does today.
In Summary
Here's just a few more reasons walking is good for you. Perhaps this might make you more inclined to go lace up your sneakers and put in some reps.
Walking can:
Hope you'll consider joining in the conversation on our Know Stroke Podcast discussions with my co-host Michael Garrow where we dive into the stroke "topics in red" to help survivors and caregivers get the reps they need to support a best life after stroke.