Gaming to Maximize Stroke Recovery, Lynne Gauthier, PhD, Stroke Buddies

Описание: Play Your Way Back: How Gaming Can Rewire the Stroke Brain

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In this video, Dr. Lynn Garrier—faculty at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Chief Scientist at RX Games—joins Stroke Buddies to explore how gaming, exercise, and daily habits can maximize neuroplasticity long after stroke. You’ll learn why movement is medicine, how rehab gaming compares to traditional therapy, and why habit change may matter more than clinic time. This discussion offers practical, science-backed strategies to help stroke survivors improve function, stay motivated, and build recovery into everyday life.

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Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction to Stroke Buddies Recovery & Science meeting
0:37 Meet Dr. Lynn Garrier and topic overview: gaming & neuroplasticity
5:54 Three evidence-based ways to boost brain plasticity at home
6:58 Why exercise is critical for stroke recovery and longevity
11:37 Motivation barriers and making exercise engaging
14:34 Rehab gaming demonstration and patient experiences
18:23 Real-world experience using therapy gaming systems
27:56 Transition from standard therapy to gaming therapy
41:38 Everyday habit change and using the affected limb
48:03 Brain changes from learned non-use and cortical shrinkage
1:00:04 Bilateral therapy, intentional tremor, and motor pathways
1:06:18 Dose of practice and sustainable daily recovery
1:27:53 Clinical trial results: gaming vs traditional therapy
1:33:42 Why therapist time should focus on lifestyle carryover
1:37:21 The role of meaningful and social activity in brain health
1:38:30 Closing thoughts and final Q&A

Dr. Lynn Garrier explains how exercise, daily habit change, and meaningful activity work together to create an optimal environment for neuroplasticity. She shares results from a multi-site clinical trial comparing traditional therapy with home-based rehab gaming, revealing that movement quality improved similarly across groups—but real-life functional gains were strongest when therapy focused on lifestyle integration. The discussion highlights the importance of repetition, accountability, using the affected limb in everyday tasks, and staying socially engaged to support long-term brain health and recovery.

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Lynne is a scientist specializing in motor recovery post-stroke. She is faculty at UMass Lowell’s Dept of Physical Therapy. She is also Chief Scientist at RxGames. She shared how to use video games and habit change to maximize recovery. She also explained 3 simple ways to stimulate neuroplasticity at home, even years post-stroke.

Lynne Gauthier  
[email protected]
  / gamesthatmoveyou  
https://rxgames.com/
https://www.uml.edu/health-sciences/pt/