Chapter 16: Out on a Limb

THE TAKEAWAY

1.       The cross-education effect is a little-known concept that has the potential to improve muscular strength and functional skill in your stroke survivor’s affected limbs by simply exercising their nonaffected limb in certain ways.

2.       Stroke survivors who have never performed one-sided training can potentially expect a 29% increase in strength or functional skills if appropriate repetitions are performed.

3.       The cross-education effect relies on strengthening exercises being performed in a certain way. The speed, intensity, and type of contractions need to be considered.

4.       The cross-education effect is hypothesized to occur due to the crossover activation and the bilateral access effects that occur in the brain during unilateral exercise.