Found something in weightlifting called a hooker. I'll have to get one.
Thanks, but I think the Saebo-Stretch is more for spasticity relief of curled fingers.
Glad you found Peter Levine, As far as I am concerned he has the best comments out there on stroke rehabilitation. He also pointed out that passive movement is helpful in starting neuroplasticity.
I couldn't see the complete study but starting at here,
http://recoverfromstroke.blogspot.com/ and looking at the relax and recover section it will lead you to here,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15003755
The effects of repetitive proprioceptive stimulation on corticomotor representation in intact and hemiplegic individuals.
He also has a great article in Advance for PT and PTAs on spasticity.
Here is the link in case you want to check out other articles
http://physical-therapy.advanceweb.com/Editorial/Search/AViewer.aspx?AN=PT_08apr21_ptp48.html&AD=04-21-2008
From the Lab
For Recovery, Stretch Those Sarcomeres
a couple of paragraphs
Spasticity after brain injury keeps muscle in a shortened position long enough to loose sarcomeres. Brain injury kills the part of the brain responsible for contraction and relaxation of particular muscles. This lack of executive control over muscles leads to a feed-forward "dance" between the spinal cord and muscles.
Here's how it works. Muscles, ever sensitive to the possibility of being overstretched, send a never-ending barrage of "help!" signals to the spinal cord. The spinal cord responds by sending back "contract!" messages to all the affected muscles. Only some of the affected muscles are shortened.
For instance, the elbow flexors may have the same relative amount of spasticity as the elbow extensors. But in that battle, as in many of the spastic battles after brain injury, the flexors "win." The "winner" loses by being left in a shortened position 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The result is a loss in number of sarcomeres and a pathological shortening of muscles.
Take care,
Dean
Hi Dean,
Check this out. I discovered this on a different stroke blog that I go to.
http://www.saebo.com/saebostretch.html
The blog I go to is:
http://recoverfromstroke.blogspot.com/
With all the snow pounding the midwest is getting, it looks like you will be able to get a lot of opportunities for "therapy"! Take care and happy shoveling, Kelly