Stroke
Recovery
A Brain-Based, Non-Invasive Approach to Post-Stroke Recovery
Stroke recovery can be complex, particularly when cognitive, emotional, or functional symptoms persist after the acute phase of treatment. Ongoing rehabilitation often involves physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and neurological follow-up.
At Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach, we provide non-invasive, outpatient care for individuals experiencing persistent post-stroke symptoms.
One approach used at our clinic is MeRT® (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy), an EEG-guided method that incorporates diagnostic testing to help inform individualized treatment planning. MeRT uses neuromodulation to influence patterns of brain activity that may be associated with post-stroke symptoms.
Treatment is tailored based on clinical evaluation and quantitative EEG findings. MeRT may be considered alongside other rehabilitation strategies, depending on the patient’s condition and goals.
The equipment used is FDA-cleared. rTMS is FDA-approved for Major Depressive Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and is used off-label for other applications, including post-stroke support.
Are you dealing with numbness, pain, weakness, balance problems, or other stroke after-effects?
Call our New Patient Coordinator to learn more about MeRT Treatment for Stroke Recovery.
Types of Stroke and How They Affect the Brain and Body
Many types of stroke exist, each with its own after-effects. These include:
- TIA (Transient Ischemic Stroke): Also referred to as a mini-stroke, where a temporary clot blocks blood flow to the brain. While a TIA doesn’t cause permanent damage, it may signal a future stroke which can be far more serious and damaging.
- Ischemic Stroke: The most common type of stroke — affecting 87% of patients — occurs when a clot obstructs a blood vessel and prevents oxygen from reaching the affected part of the brain.
- Hemorrhagic Stroke: This stroke is also called a “brain bleed” and occurs when blood vessels within the brain rupture and bleed into the surrounding tissues. The most common hemorrhagic stroke is an aneurysm (when a blood vessel bursts) caused by uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Other strokes include a Cryptogenic Stroke, where the cause is unknown, and a Brain Stem Stroke, which occurs in the brain’s stem instead of the brain itself. Each of these can be damaging and sometimes fatal.
Stroke Aftereffects
A stroke can affect different areas of the body, depending on where it occurs in the brain. For example, if a stroke occurs on the left side of the brain, it affects the right side of the body and vice versa. The amount of damage caused by the stroke will determine the amount of rehabilitation needed, as well as how much permanent disability occurs.
After-effects can include:
- Paralysis on the right or left side of the body
- Speech/language problems
- Vision problems
- Memory loss
Because the brain controls every function in the human body, a stroke can affect many areas, some of them permanently. And the time for recovery can take anywhere from weeks to years, depending on the stroke’s severity. However, therapy and rehabilitation can greatly help in recovery from stroke after-effects.
Neuroplasticity and Stroke Recovery
When a stroke occurs, some brain cells are damaged and others may be lost. In the weeks and months that follow, the brain begins a recovery process. This includes repairing injured cells when possible and reorganizing neural connections in response to the injury.
This process is known as neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to adapt by forming and strengthening new neural pathways. Neuroplasticity plays an important role in rehabilitation after stroke.
At Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach, we incorporate this understanding into our approach to post-stroke care.
MeRT® (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy) is an EEG-guided form of neuromodulation that uses quantitative EEG (qEEG) and EKG data to help inform individualized treatment planning. By evaluating patterns of brain activity, clinicians determine whether a tailored neuromodulation protocol may be appropriate as part of a broader recovery plan.
Neuromodulation aims to influence brain activity patterns associated with cognitive and functional symptoms. It is intended to support the brain’s adaptive processes and may be used alongside conventional stroke rehabilitation therapies.
The equipment used is FDA-cleared. rTMS is FDA-approved for Major Depressive Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and is used off-label for other applications, including post-stroke support.
The MeRT Process
MeRT evolved from a technology called rTMS (repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). However, MeRT is much more customized for each patient based on their brain scans and symptoms.
Studies have shown altered brain wave oscillations in patients suffering from conditions such as Major Depression Disorder (MDD), Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, and more. The MeRT treatment protocol uses a magnetic field to balance and stimulate brain function.
Read these simple 5-Steps (click on each heading in the horizontal menu below) …
- Talk with our New Patient Coordinator
- Initial Analysis
- Assessment Period
- Full Treatment Program
- Final Testing
Our New Patient Coordinator is here to help
Call us and talk with our New Patient Coordinator. She will take the time to answer any questions you have as explain things. You can discuss your specific circumstances and she can explain how it all works.
This consultation is free of charge and there are no obligations to move forward with any further steps.
If you would like to take the next steps to see if you or your loved one may benefit from MeRT, she can schedule a qEEG (brain scan) and a consultation to discuss the results with our clinician.
Call (949) 418-1108
The qEEG and Consultation
If you are interested in seeing if MeRT treatment is right for you, we will initially schedule two appointments, both of which last about 45 minutes.
This simply involves a qEEG (quantitative EEG or brain scan), followed by a consultation with our clinician a few days later to see your results before making any decisions about treatment or proceeding with anything further.
For the initial analysis, you will come in for a comprehensive testing appointment. We will gather your new patient paperwork, and then our chief neuro technician will perform a qEEG and EKG to enable us to identify any dysfunction or communication problems in your brain.
Your second appointment usually runs about 45 minutes. During this time, you will meet with one of our clinician s, Kayleigh Prowse or Sheila Stephens, for your consultation. She will discuss your qEEG results, answer any questions you may have and discuss your applicable treatment plan. Dr. Julie Kim, our Medical Director, oversees all treatment for each patient.
Should you decide to proceed with treatment, we will schedule your assessment period.
Two Weeks of MeRT followed by new testing
The assessment period of treatment lasts two weeks. This assessment period will help you — and us — determine how you are responding to treatment.
You will have your initial qEEG/EKG and then attend treatment sessions for two weeks. The first week will be Monday through Friday, and the second week, Monday through Thursday, nine sessions in total, followed by a repeat qEEG to determine progress and note any changes occurring in your brain.
A typical treatment session takes about 45 minutes. You will sit in a chair while the neuro-technician administers the treatment near the scalp via a hand-held magnet. We deliver gentle magnetic impulses for six to eight seconds each minute. You may feel a slight sensation while the treatment is occurring, but it is not painful or uncomfortable.
Continuing Treatment
Once the assessment period is complete, we will schedule the subsequent two-week treatment periods. Because each treatment period lasts for two weeks, you must be able to stay in Newport Beach or the surrounding area for each 2-week treatment period.
The comparison between the initial and second qEEG/clinical evaluation will often show if you are responding. You may also start to experience changes in the way you are feeling during this time. For some, it takes longer before changes are more obvious. We highly advise a total of six to eight weeks of treatment (which includes the assessment period) for optimal and long-lasting results.
Since each brain is unique, the protocol will be different for each patient as it is based on specific qEEG/EKG data from your brain, and the specific condition being treated. Generally, the results of treatment can last a lifetime, though some people prefer occasional follow-up treatment as needed. But each person is different, and protocols may vary. Your provider will have regularly scheduled follow-up EEGs and meet with you to gauge your progress.
Review of Changes and Improvements
An additional qEEG is performed at the end of treatment to assess and take stock of the benefits and improvements that have occurred as a result of the full treatment protocol.
Please note that results and improvements are based on active and strict observation of our regimens. Results may vary based on the individual users and are not guaranteed. Plus, the results of therapy can vary per individual. In general, the longer the length of MeRT therapy, the longer the changes remain.
Contact Our New Patient
Coordinator for More Information
It’s normal for patients and their families affected by brain disorders to feel uncertain about treatment options and what is best. MeRT is a treatment protocol that has helped patients restore their brain function, reclaim their lives, and get a whole new lease on life.
Our goal is to help guide you through the process so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not MeRT is the right treatment for you or your child. Our clinicians and technicians are passionate about helping you to heal.
Our New Patient Coordinator is available to answer any questions that you may have about how MeRT can help you specifically. She’ll take the time to listen to your concerns and put your mind at ease. She can also assist in getting you scheduled with the clinic should you decide to move forward with treatment.
Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More
(949) 418-1108
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