Overchallenge forces something to change. The word forces is important. Some of the best strategies for recovery involve forcing the survivor into something that challenges them towards recovery.
That last sentence has a lot to unpack. So lets unpack...
First, "forcing the survivor" is not really correct. The survivor forces themself. No one likes to be "forced" to do anything. Plus, it won't work that way. When it comes to relearning movement after stroke, no one can force you. I can't force you to learn movement. But you can, and do, force yourself to learn. That's the way it works: The brain changes according to the owner's wishes. So, survivors self-force their own overchallenge.
Second, the word forced is accurate because that's exactly what is done. Take forced use. Forced use is when the survivor uses their "bad" side for a certain amount of time.
FUT: The survivor uses only their "bad" side for minutes to hours per day, at home.
CIT: The survivor has their behavior "shaped" by a clinician with repetitive practice of component parts of a skill. It is usually done with 3-6 hours of practice in the clinic with a therapist, as well as FUT done at home)
(Note to nerds: Forced use therapy (FUT) and constraint
induced therapy (CIT) often get confused.
FUT: The survivor uses only their "bad" side for minutes to hours per day, at home.
CIT: The survivor has their behavior "shaped" by a clinician with repetitive practice of component parts of a skill. It is usually done with 3-6 hours of practice in the clinic with a therapist, as well as FUT done at home)
Third, overchallenge requires a forcing into an area that the brain is uncomfortable. Usually, the concept of overchallenge is associated with muscle building. But with regard to stroke recovery, overchallenge has to do with brain building. And the brain does not want to build. It does not want challenge. Because here's how the brain looks at it "Why should I challenge myself? If I do, I will change. And what if I change into something I don't like?"
But overchallenge is exactly what the brain needs to recover. Here are a few of recovery strategies that use the overchallenge concept:
1. Constraint induced therapy
2. Forced use therapy
2. Forced use therapy
But overchallenge could be walking longer distances, challenging your balance on uneven surfaces (safely, of course) not relying on aids of various kinds, etc. Even something like reaching...even ...further, across a table for something has the ability to overchallenge.
5 comments:
Just did that yesterday when clearing trails with a sweeping scythe, the trail disappeared and I got lost. Exhausted I had to walk thru the woods stepping over logs and under branches trying not to lose my balance as I staggered around with no walking stick. At least last night it wasn't raining compared to the night before and the stinging nettle was mostly already cut down.
I think your comments about not wanting to force the victim and they must force themselves are very true. The only way for any real recovery to occur is for the person to want to relearn and get better. I cant imagine how challenging it must be to relearn things that you have known your whole life. I also agree that to challenge the brain is important. The brain is a very impressive organ. It is always working and adapting. The only way that a patient can get better is to continue to challenge themselves. Your blog was very important and informative. Thank you!
I think your comments about not wanting to force the victim and they must force themselves are very true. The only way for any real recovery to occur is for the person to want to relearn and get better. I cant imagine how challenging it must be to relearn things that you have known your whole life. I also agree that to challenge the brain is important. The brain is a very impressive organ. It is always working and adapting. The only way that a patient can get better is to continue to challenge themselves. Your blog was very important and informative. Thank you!
I think your comments about not wanting to force the victim and they must force themselves are very true. The only way for any real recovery to occur is for the person to want to relearn and get better. I cant imagine how challenging it must be to relearn things that you have known your whole life. I also agree that to challenge the brain is important. The brain is a very impressive organ. It is always working and adapting. The only way that a patient can get better is to continue to challenge themselves. Your blog was very important and informative. I have also created my own page about the subject. http://kespeechpathologist.weebly.com/blog/it-happens-in-a-moment Thank you!
Thank you Ms. Kristen. I do hope it helps!
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