"Stronger After Stroke"

In Memoriam: Peter G. Levine

In Memoriam: Peter G. Levine

(December 22, 1960 – January 8, 2022) Author of Stronger After Stroke

As we close out the last day of May today (stroke awareness month) and along with it a solid week of writing for my new book, Closure After Stroke,  I thought I’d reflect on one more person who had impacted my stroke recovery and helped many other stroke survivors with his own writing, research and dedication to his craft.

In case you are not familiar with his work, Peter G. Levine was a passionate force in the world of stroke recovery—as an author, PTA, educator, and tireless advocate for survivors. 

Through his groundbreaking book Stronger After Stroke, Peter changed the conversation around neuroplasticity, rehabilitation, and what’s possible after stroke. His work empowered survivors, guided clinicians, and challenged outdated beliefs in stroke care.

Peter Had a Helping Hand in Shaping My Own Roadmap to Recovery

I was fortunate to have connected with Peter on three occasions during my stroke recovery.  We spoke by phone early on in the first year after my stroke, and Peter was understanding and listened to my goals initially when I was trying to restore my gait at home and build my weight supported gait training system.  

He later took another call years later when I was looking for more information about Constraint Induced Therapy (CIT) to help a young stroke survivor in my community find a trained therapist in my home town. 

Finally, shortly after the first edition of his book came out, Peter was in town conducting a CEU course on stroke recovery. I attended and thanked him for all his help.  I also was honored to review an edition of his book and provide my lived experience and how it helped myself and my patients.

I included his book on my list of top ten resources for books that helped my brain recover.  You can watch this video in this article.

Peter believed deeply in the potential for recovery—not just functional, but full, meaningful recovery. His voice brought hope where there was once resignation, and his legacy lives on in the lives of countless people who found strength, science, and direction through his writing.

‘The Ultimate Stroke-Recovery Drug’

He will be remembered not only for his contributions to stroke rehab literature, but for the courage and clarity with which he pushed the field forward. The stroke community is stronger because of Peter Levine.

May his memory continue to inspire progress and perseverance. I have carried on some of his messages in the themes I write about and what I share with others about the best personal roadmap to recovery. 

I will always remember his statement he shared with me and which he emphasizes in his book on the importance of exercise as ‘The Ultimate Stroke-Recovery Drug’.

Those “Recovery Machines’

Finally, through Peter’s book he helped educate me about those ‘Recovery Machines’ or all the cool rehab tech tools I imagine he had early access to in his lab and research roles.

To this day, I’m inspired on how these tech tools can change the trajectory of stroke recovery and I am committed to helping spread awareness for those that can benefit.

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Here’s a podcast episode you may have missed from earlier in the week where I summarize the rehab buckets that I am writing about and how we can break down rehab barriers.

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Using Technology to Bridge the Gaps in Stroke Recovery and Help Survivors Restore Function and Achieve Balance

Please leave a comment if you’ve been impacted by Peter’s work. Thank you!