Chapter 12: The Power of Rest

THE TAKEAWAY

1.       Understand the importance of rest in a physical rehabilitation program and build in appropriate breaks based on what your stroke survivor feels is necessary. Make it clear that you understand that napping and resting are essential so that your stroke survivor does not feel as if they are being lazy in your eyes.

2.       Encourage your stroke survivor to start their daily program only when they feel fully rested or their low concentration levels will diminish their ability to benefit from the neuroplastic priming that occurs in the chosen therapies. Your biggest mission is to prevent your stroke survivor from getting fatigued.

3.       Your stroke survivor must reach the deeper levels (stages 3 and 4) of sleep to fully upload new daily memories and brain coding that have been hard earned during physical rehabilitation. Deep sleep will also allow them to wake up the next day feeling refreshed.

4.       Caffeine can benefit your stroke survivor, but they must take their last caffeinated drink no later than lunchtime to allow caffeine to leave their bodies and thus allow them to reach those deeper levels of sleep. Alcohol should also not be used to enhance sleep.

5.       Recognize that your stroke survivor may suffer post-stroke fatigue. This exhausting experience is difficult to manage, so your stroke survivor will need to take control of the timing of their rest breaks and napping in order to carry out important physical rehabilitation. Some simple tips for reducing fatigue are suggested.

6.       Record and acknowledge the amount of hard work and the number of repetitions that are undertaken by your stroke survivor, and you will ensure that they stay motivated to keep going longer and enjoy their program more. Let’s go LEGO.