Diabetes and Your Stroke Risk

You may not think to connect two different health concerns like stroke and diabetes, but if you have diabetes, you are 1.5 times more likely to suffer a stroke. Why? It has to do with a key player in the body’s regulation of glucose (blood sugar): insulin. If insulin levels are off or it’s not put to proper use in the body, build up results and the likelihood of stroke increases. Fortunately, there a number of ways to control your diabetes, and if you do that, you simultaneously decrease your risk of having a stroke. The research cited below will help...

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: Causes, Signs, Symptoms, & Management Techniques

About 15% of cerebral palsy cases result in dyskinetic CP, which is a motor disorder characterized by uncontrollable movements. As with all types of cerebral palsy, every person is affected differently. For instance, one individual with dyskinetic CP may struggle with inward-facing feet while another individual may experience poor posture due to involuntary fluctuations in muscle tone. The effects vary greatly, which makes it essential to work closely with a therapist for individualized rehabilitation. Causes of Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy Dyskinetic cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the basal ganglia or thalamus before, during, or shortly after birth. Damage to these areas of the brain often causes abnormal muscle tone...

Which Saebo Hand Rehabilitation Device is Right For You?

In 2001, two occupational therapists had one goal: to provide neurological clients access to transformative and life-changing products for improving arm and hand function. Frustrated with the current devices on the market that were limited, expensive, and inaccessible for home use, the founders were inspired to create new, revolutionary solutions. What started as a dream has now become Saebo, a global provider of affordable rehabilitative products designed to improve mobility and function in individuals suffering from neurological and orthopedic conditions. With a vast network of Saebo-trained clinicians spanning six continents, Saebo has helped over 200,000 clients around the globe achieve a...

Spastic Cerebral Palsy: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common type of cerebral palsy, making up about 80% of all cases. Despite being so prevalent, each individual experiences this type of CP differently and will benefit most from a personalized approach to management. Causes of Spastic Cerebral Palsy As with all forms of cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the developing brain before, during, or shortly after birth. Specifically, it’s caused by damage to the motor cortex, which is the part of the brain primarily responsible for controlling voluntary movement. Common causes of spastic CP include: Premature birth Infection Lack of oxygen in the brain Stroke Genetic factors Head...

Recovering from Foot Drop: The Benefits of Foot Drop Braces

After suffering an orthopedic or neurological injury or disease, it is common for clients to experience decreased lower-extremity coordination. When a client feels more weakness or spasticity in the muscles responsible for lifting the foot, it is called foot drop. Often, a client experiencing foot drop will try to compensate for this impairment by hiking their hip or bending their knee more so they don’t drag the foot. This is known as “steppage gait,” and because the compensation movements are abnormal, it can lead to worsening back problems. Clients can manage and often overcome foot drop by using supportive foot-drop braces like the...