"OT, Stem Cells, and Stroke"

In this podcast, OT Potential, Sarah Lyon explores an article that was named the #3 occupational therapy related journal article. Sarah, an OTR/L, explains the research that this article explores and how that might have an impact on the profession of occupational therapy. I chose this article because I have an interest in strokes. Strokes are a part of my OT origin story as I was first introduced to occupational therapy after my grandfather suffered from a left-side ischemic stroke.
This podcasts explains the development of medical science in regards to stem cell therapy after strokes. Sarah explains that the he stem cells that this research is presenting is not the embryonic stem cell research that has caused great controversy but cells from an individuals' own body. Research is being done to suggest that cells can be injected into areas of the brains that have been damaged and create new pathways. This has been practiced on animals and is now being tested for adverse side affects in humans. It is believed that this could be common and available practice within the next 5-10 years.... just in time for our cohort to be joining the working community as occupational therapists.
This research is important because it shows that injecting cells into damaged areas is not as effective without the use of therapeutic movement. While science can support neuroplasticity, as I have discussed in previous posts, movement is crucial for reforming the neural pathways. This is where OT shines in this possible treatment. Research will continue to be pushed to learn what type of therapy and how much should be given.
Cell based therapy can also play a role for clients that have suffered from a stroke and reached a "chronic stroke phase." Sarah defines this as a client that suffered a stroke more than 6 months ago and have not shown improvement in 2 months. These clients will reach a plateau and might even be discharged from OT because we cannot prove that it is necessary or making improvements. The possibility of cell based therapy and it's combination with movement and physical therapy could play a huge role in the lives of these clients. Having this medical intervention as a possibility would increase the hope for many individuals that have suffered from a stroke and encourage the role of OT in the process.
I think that the OT Potential Podcast is a great resource for students because it breaks down important and sometimes daunting journal articles into relatable and interesting information. This post is similar to a recent post that I wrote about cell therapy intervention in spinal cord injuries and the incredible impact that it could make in rehabilitation. I have an interest in neurological damage and rehabilitation and the Neuro Note assignments have allowed me to explore amazing breakthroughs and difficult truths of this topic.

Lyon, Sarah.(2019, March 29.) OT Potential Podcast: OT, Stem Cells, and Strokes. [Audio Podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/ot-potential-podcast.