Transforming Stroke Recovery, an interview with UCLA’s Dr. Steve Cramer

Dr. Cramer's Journey in Stroke Care

Dr. Steve Cramer is a physician who specializes in stroke recovery research. He believes that human nature drives people to do more, be the best, and leave the world a little better than they found it. He is motivated by the experiences of working with stroke survivors and believes that recovery from stroke is possible. Through this belief, he emphasizes the importance of conveying hope to stroke survivors and allowing stroke survivors to regain the ability to experience the joy of life again. This personal belief transcends into his career as a clinician, researcher, and mentor, allowing his curiosity and enthusiasm to improve the field of neuro recovery and challenge conventional practices.

In my conversation with Dr. Cramer, he expressed his vision of a stroke-free world, where disability is eliminated. However, achieving this goal requires significant advancements in technology and medical treatments. According to him, a comprehensive strategy for stroke recovery, involving diverse therapies and devices to regulate brain function, blood flow, and neural activity, will play a vital role in enabling complete recuperation from stroke.

Here are several avenues that he deems worthy of exploration:

Additional Modalities Can Improve Stroke Rehabilitation

Additional modalities that may contribute to effective stroke rehabilitation include cellular therapies and pharmaceutical treatments. For a stroke recovery to be effective, a type of therapy or device will need to work well with other modalities and ultimately galvanize society to revamp how society approaches stroke recovery and life after stroke. 

The Paradigm Shift: Rethinking Stroke Intervention and Adaptation

To advance stroke recovery, there needs to be a paradigm shift in how society and physicians view stroke, specifically the importance of implementing the correct intervention within the acute and sub-acute window and the ability to adapt to the challenges and situation of an individual patient. Clinical trials are critical in this effort, and researchers like Dr. Cramer are dedicated to finding effective treatments to help stroke survivors regain their function and quality of life.

Telerehabilitation: Revolutionizing Stroke Recovery at Home

While there have been some promising developments in recent years, current advancements are not enough and have not changed significantly. An area of particular interest in stroke recovery research is telerehabilitation and the idea that recovery from stroke can occur within the individual’s home. 

Dr. Cramer’s work on telerehabilitation has shown that this is an effective way to help stroke survivors regain function in their affected arm while reducing barriers to care. 

Advancing Stroke Recovery: From Intensive Therapy to Biomarker Identification

As a leading expert in stroke recovery research, Dr. Cramer’s research has shown that there are many ways to improve stroke recovery, including intensive therapy, stem cell therapy, device treatments, and biomarker identification. However, there is still much work to be done to facilitate consistent recovery for every patient.

BrainQ’s Potential to Improve Stroke Care

BrainQ's groundbreaking EMAGINE study revolutionizes telerehabilitation by harnessing the power of electromagnetic field therapy (ELF-EMF) through a sophisticated cloud-based connected system. 

This innovative approach not only holds the potential to enhance the therapeutic benefits of movements but also empowers stroke survivors to reclaim control over their rehabilitation journey. 

Moreover, the comprehensive platform developed by BrainQ extends its support not only to stroke survivors but also to their caregivers, fostering a sense of connection, reducing social isolation, and paving the way for a collaborative and empowering recovery experience.