Charting your change……
Charting your change…….
As stroke survivors the rehab journey does not cease when we leave the hospital- in many cases \{indeed with mine\} it had only just commenced.
No longer did we have the security blanket of the physios, the clinicians, the routine, the awareness that some one was there to guide/motivate/assist us in our rehab routines, the exercises and the targets that were to be achieved!
I was on my own- well not really, I had my family and they to their eternal credit, who ensured that I continued my rehab, in particular my walking as that was the most significant residue of my Left Lacunar Stroke, which I sustained in April 2016.
I did not need any motivation, for those people who know me, recognize me as the epitome of a “Type A “personality.
So, I commenced my rehab journey, but before I took a step, I set a quantifiable objective\{measurable\} so I could track my improvement, modify my target if needed to. Plus, I set some dates along the journey so again I could check my progress.
But importantly I kept a record \{CHART\} as that was the way I could see/check the progress of my rehab journey.
I started with baby steps- the first three months-
10 laps a day of my garage with the aid of a Pelican Belt- the grand total of 40 metres.
Then-10 laps a day of my driveway – no pelican belt!
2 trips daily to the bottom of the street
4 trips to the bottom of the street and up the side lane
1 trip a day around the block
2 trips a day around the block
I hope you can see the trend here- greater distances, each trip a rung up the rehab ladder and further from my home \{my security blanket\} all helping to build my confidence.
Once I had confidence, and I trusted myself to walk these distances solo \{most important\} I got serious about my walking and started to spend 2-3 hours per day, 7 days a week at it.
A remarkable feat considering I would not walk to the mailbox- pre-stroke
About 2 years ago. I commenced a project on tele-rehab focusing on the benefit of increasing repetitions, stepping exercises integrated with my walking with Doctor Simone Dorsch, Senior Lecturer, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney \{a leading Australian and internationally renowned Stroke clinician.\}
The results have been dramatic, and we operate on recording repetitions reviewing \{CHARTING\}and increasing the level of activity to continue to challenge me.
My Weekly Walking record- which indicates that each day I walk between 20,000 and 30.000 steps.
I have added 240 steps on the stairs at the local railway station and a column” Contact with handrail’" which indicates the time I hold on to the handrail- a measure of my confidence-100% means I was holding on all the time!
The bonus of going up and down those stairs is there is a Vietnamese bakery on the other side- which makes fantastic sausage rolls- my fortnightly treat! Remember-celebrate your milestones- treat yourself
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What is my POINT!!!
For rehab to be beneficial it must be measurable- otherwise its like you- know- what into the wind!
By measuring \{CHARTING\} it you can see the value of your efforts; \{YOUR CHANGE\} your pathway becomes clearer, and you can even extend your rehab horizons.
I did and each day I walk a little better; each month I walk a little longer and each day I smell the morning air and live the life I was intended to live!
But there is more!
To help you Chart your journey I have attached a link to my blog on writing rehab objectives which will help you in your journey
As my childhood hero, Hopalong Cassidy says “Happy Trails Boys and girls”