NEVER GIVE UP

Mary called to say, “Mom (Rebecca) had a stroke and she has little movement in her left arm and leg. What can we do?” I responded, “Find a Saebo trained therapist.”  Saebo has many products to help individuals that have suffered a stroke especially if the individual has spasticity.   

Spasticity is a condition in which there is an abnormal increase in muscle tone or stiffness of muscle, which may interfere with movement, speech, or be associated with discomfort or pain.  Spasticity is usually caused by damage to nerve pathways within the brain or spinal cord that control muscle movement. The degree of spasticity varies from mild muscle stiffness to severe, painful, and uncontrollable muscle spasms. Spasticity can interfere with rehabilitation in patients with certain disorders, and often interferes with daily activities.

Rebecca located a Saebo therapist and began her journey.  First, she was placed in a SaeboStretch to reduce the spasticity in her hand.  The SaeboStretch is different from traditional hand splints.  Traditional splints are made from hard/rigid material that do not allow for any movement of the fingers. The SaeboStretch has a unique dynamic hand piece that allows the fingers to move through flexion (closing fist position) due to increased tone. The same stretch technology safely repositions the fingers into extension (normal hand position) when the spasticity. The SaeboStretch includes three different hand pieces that offer various grades of resistance so you can further match individual specific needs when normalizing spasticity. The SaeboStretch technology assists in preventing or reducing joint damage and pain. With hard static splints, there is increased pressure at the finger joints. The dynamic, flexible SaeboStretch hand plates reduce the pressure at the joints by allowing the hand plates to bend with the fingers when the tone increases.  The wrist and thumb support components are easily bendable if there are soft tissue shortening. The SaeboStretch places the wrist and fingers in a position that is best for the client and accommodates changes as they progress.  The soft and flexible materials allow the individuals to wear it for numerous hours and while sleeping to obtain the maximum benefits and preserves the integrity of the skin.  Normally, individuals that have suffered a neurological injury such as stroke, develop increased tightness in the hand, known as contractures. If the hand is not maintained in an optimal position, over time the muscles can shorten leading to contractures. Contractures can become painful and further limit the ability to regain hand function as one recovers.  The SaeboStretch benefits clients whose hand has minimal to moderate stiffness but is able to open their hand flat with assistance.

As Rebecca’s spasticity decreased, she began to have some movement in her arm and hand.  She wore the SaeboStretch at night and then she began to use the SaeboFlex along with the SaeboReach to begin a grasp and release program.  Normally, clients that have suffered a neurological injury such as stroke are unable to open or extend their fingers and their hand often is in a clenched or closed position.  The SaeboFlex is dynamic custom fabricated wrist, hand, and finger orthosis that allows stroke survivors the ability to incorporate the involved hand functionally in therapy and at home by supporting the weakened wrist, hand, and fingers and assists with hand opening and closing (grasping and releasing). The brace attaches to the stroke survivors forearm, hand, and fingers. The SaeboReach is another dynamic custom fabricated elbow, wrist, hand, and finger orthosis. The SaeboReach consists of a combination of the SaeboFlex and a custom fabricated above-elbow component to improve elbow extension. The orthosis features an elbow extension system. The elbow extension system provides assistance in straightening the arm so functional reaching is possible. The SaeboReach was specifically designed for individuals that have limited hand and elbow function.  By opening and closing the hand with the SaeboFlex or Reach, clients can retrain the brain and strengthen the muscles needed to perform daily tasks. It can also prevent tightening of the hand and shortening of the muscles, which can limit hand function even further. “If you don’t use it, you will lose it.” With the client using his or her hand early and often following the injury, further loss of movement can be prevented and a faster recovery may occur.

 Rebecca kept performing her exercises each night and graduated to the SaeboGlove. There are 3 groups of clients that typically qualify for the SaeboGlove.  Mildly affected neurological individuals exhibit some finger extension, but not full. They may have used the SaeboFlex, but are no longer challenged by it. They still suffer from hand function impairment including fine motor control, weak finger flexors, and/or weak extensors. Numerous repetitions may be difficult due to weak finger extension strength and endurance. Thumb and index finger tone may be more prevalent. Moderate/severely affected neurological individuals exhibit very minimal or no active wrist/finger extension. Rebecca worked with her therapist as if it were her “job” to regain her arm function.  Currently, she is able to dress herself with use of her arm, hold mugs, and open doors.  Her main goal to hug her daughter with a two-handed hug she even accomplished!

Often, an individual’s stroke affects their foot causing drop foot resulting in need of an ankle foot orthosis (AFO).  Individuals will try to compensate by hiking their hip or bending their knee more to clear their foot without dragging. This can lead to further problems in the back due to the abnormal compensation movements.  TheSaeboStep is designed to replace uncomfortable, or bulky splints that go inside the shoe, as well as poorly manufactured braces designed for outside of the shoe that lack support and durability.  With other large AFOs, individuals would need to purchase two different sized shoes and possible widths to accommodate for the bulky plastic.  The SaeboStep is attached around the ankle and the cables are attached to the shoe which fully lifts the foot during walking.  The “lift” dial allows individuals to customize the pull of the cables depending on what the individual needs throughout the day and from day to day for foot clearance related to their spasticity. The reason Rebecca wanted to try the SaeboStep was because she wanted to be able to wear her keen sandals on the beach.  Today, she is able to walk on the beach without fear of falling when she goes on a family vacation. 

Rebecca was able to accomplish this not after a couple of months of therapy but after 2 years of therapy.  She never gave up on reaching her goals!  Tiered progressive specific interventions are a unique and effective strategy to not only enhance recovery but to sustain and build upon lasting improvements.