"Very severe stroke and it was bad. I couldn't eat. I couldn't drink," said Michael Steffenson.
It has been two years since Steffenson's stroke.
"I couldn't open a door knob. I didn't take a shower by myself. I couldn't lift a glass," Steffenson recalled.
He still struggles trying to walk and on his left hand, his fingers are tightly flexed and unable to open. He asked me to try to straighten them. I was not successful.
Each year, millions of people suffer a stroke. Depending on the severity of the stroke, the side effects can be devastating. Marcie Fraser has more.
"The problem in the hand with a stroke, in Mike's case, he has a lot of tone in his hand so meaning he can't use his hand functionally," said occupational therapist Aaron Stewart.
He was told by several therapists he'd gain no further movement in his hand, but he knew he could do more and he did with the Saebo, a spring like device that helps stretch out the tension in the forearm, wrist and fingers.
"I couldn't carry things in my left hand. Saebo is like a small gym for your hand. It strengthens it," said Steffenson.
"It's an extension spring loaded splint. Meaning that it is forcing the hand in an extension and what they do is use their volitional control to get their hand, like around a ball or a water bottle and through repetition, what happens extension starts breaking down that flexed tone so they can use their hand freely," Stewart said.
The device fits over the finger tips. Various springs can be tightened as the hand gets stronger. Saebo can be used with children who suffer from CP. Certain criteria need to be met.
"You have to have at least fifteen degrees of shoulder flexion. Fifteen degrees of elbow flexion and be able to close your hand like this," Stewart said.
In addition to his work done here in the occupational therapy department, he works out at home. He grabs and releases 160 balls per day which takes him two hours. He says it takes a lot of work but the work is worth it. No price can be placed on independence.
"I worked six months to move one finger and when I moved that one finger, it was another major victory for me," said Steffenson.
"Every time you see a little improvement it is fantastic. I can't describe it. It is just amazing," said Stewart.
"I dress myself completely. I shave. I shower and I am going to start driving lessons on Friday," Steffenson said.
Even during the thirty minutes we watched Steffenson work, we could see the improvement in his hand. He increased the range by about 25 percent.
"When I take it off, it feels so good that I can do anything with it and that leaves me to believe that eventually, I am going to be cured. I am confident!" Steffenson said.
John Rapsher Physical Therapy and Associates
(518) 489-2524
www.saebo.com