77_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giXGZvZIl2k_more exercise / increasing activity
gpt
Hi, Mrs. Smith. It's really nice to see you again. I see you're back to follow up on the stroke you had. How are things going for you at the rehab facility?
human
[signs] Kind of slow.
gpt
Kind of slow?
human
Yeah.
gpt
What kind of things have you been in your rehab?
human
Oh, they have me doing all kinds of things in different machines and stuff. Yeah, it hurts.
gpt
It hurts? Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Where are you having pain?
human
Well, just about every joint like especially my knees. They're really-- They have me doing some leg things that-that-that is it really necessary?
gpt
Well, you know, I-I understand that pain is hard to work through but a lot of time when you're having rehab after a stroke, that pain is telling you that your muscles and joints are starting to work again. So you can kind of think of it as a positive way to, you know, know that your-your body's getting back to normal.
human
Okay.
gpt
But what are your goals for the long term?
human
I wanna go home.
gpt
Oh, of course, of course. And what are the things that you'd like to be able to do once you get home?
human
Everything. I wanna- I wanna, play with my dog. I miss my dog. I wanna cook for myself. I'm a very independent person and I wanna do things for myself.
gpt
Yeah, yeah. And so that's a very important goal to be able to get back home, to be able to get back to your independence. Have you thought about what it might take to get there?
human
Um, I guess the rehab.
gpt
Mm-hmm. Yeah, you're absolutely right. And it's also going to be very important that once you're home, you're able to continue on a regular activity program. Have you thought about what that might look like?
human
Not really.
gpt
Not really, okay. Well, have you ever heard of something called Tai Chi? Is that a familiar term to you?
human
Oh, yeah.
gpt
You've heard of it?
human
Uh, I have.
gpt
Okay.
human
I have a friend who, uh, does it and she just raves about it. She loves it.
gpt
Well, you know, Tai Chi is one of the best ways to get your balance back after you've had something like a stroke. And it's also really good for preventing falls. And if you wanna be home and you wanna be doing the things you wanna do and going for walks with your dog, it's very important to make sure that you don't fall 'cause that would cause more problems down the road.
human
Absolutely. I do not want to fall, for sure.
gpt
So what do you think about Tai Chi? Is that something you think you might be able to try sometime?
human
Well, I-I hadn't really thought about it, but yeah I guess, I guess.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
Like I said, my friend talks about it and-and it's very pretty. I've seen pictures, you know.
gpt
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, it's not that easy to get started. You do certainly have to have some motivation to want to do it. Um, and when you first start, oftentimes you do feel a little wobbly or a little insecure.
human
Well, I don't see how I could do it. I-I'm still in a walker, you know.
gpt
Yeah, yeah, I understand. So there are lots of places around that have it. Your local senior center would have it. And what I recommend is that you start by doing it in a chair. Just sitting in the chair.
human
I could?
gpt
You could. You can talk to the instructor and that way you won't fall, you'll feel confident and you'll start to learn some of the moves. And then gradually over time, as you get a little bit better at doing the moves in a chair, you can start to stand up, use the chair to lean on, and then eventually, you'll be able to get to the point where you can do it on your own.
human
And you really recommend this?
gpt
You know, it cuts your risk of falls in half. It also helps to reduce pain although that's not a short-term benefit, you do have to stick with it for at least three to six months to start have it help reduce your pain. But it does have a number of things that I think would get you to your goals of being home and able to play with your dog and doing your own cooking and things like that.
human
You do Tai Chi?
gpt
I do Tai Chi. I do it three days a week and it's really helped my balance as well.
human
Oh, okay. Well, yeah. Um, listen, anything that's going to get me home and if you do it and you recommend it, I'll try it.
gpt
All right. Well, I'm delighted. It's a pleasure to see you again. I hope your rehab continues to go well and we can talk some more about this at our next visit.
human
Okay, okay.
gpt
All right. Thank you for coming in.