E116: Stroke Recovery with Vivistim Featuring Rachel Pienta, OTR & Han Nguyen, DPT

Welcome back to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast! This week, Dr. Kerry Reller sits down with Rachel Pienta, OTR, and Dr. Han Nguyen, DPT, to talk all things stroke recovery, neuroplasticity, and an exciting new device called Vivistim.In this episode, we break down what actually happens during a stroke, how it affects upper limb function, and what recovery really looks like—from hospital care to rehab and beyond. Dr. Nguyen explains the phases of stroke rehab and why early, intensive therapy matters, while Rachel introduces us to Vivistim, an FDA-approved vagus nerve stimulation device helping stroke survivors regain hand and arm function—even years after their stroke.We discuss how Vivistim works, what makes someone a good candidate, and how therapy paired with vagus nerve stimulation boosts the brain’s ability to rewire itself. You’ll hear real patient stories, get a better understanding of neuroplasticity, and learn why it’s never too late to pursue recovery.Whether you're a stroke survivor, a caregiver, or just curious about breakthroughs in neurorehab, this episode is packed with hope, science, and actionable insights. Tune in and discover how innovation is changing the game in stroke recovery.Han Nguyen ("Hon Win") is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Board-Certified Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy. Han started her career in intensive rehab at Largo West Hospital seeing patients after acute neurological injuries. During this time, Han recognized that there was a big gap in the community between intensive rehab in the hospital and outpatient rehab once patients get discharged. Han left her full time job in 2023 and started Neubility Rehabilitation and Wellness. Neubility Rehab is a specialized physical therapy and occupational therapy practice that focus on motivated individuals with neurological injuries and disorders, such as stroke, Parkinson's, brain and spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, balance and vertigo/dizziness . Neubility Rehab is located in Pinellas Park and they've been proudly serving the Pinellas county community for the last 2 years.Rachel Pienta is an Occupational Therapist and a Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist with experience across diverse healthcare settings, including Inpatient Rehabilitation, Acute Care Hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities, and Home Health Care.  Throughout her career, she has worked with individuals at various stages of recovery following stroke and other medical conditions.  Recently, she transitioned to the role of Therapy Development Specialist at Vivistim, where she provides education and support to stroke survivors, therapists, and other healthcare providers. Vivistim is the first FDA-approved paired vagus nerve stimulation device specifically designed to improve hand and arm function in chronic stroke survivors.00:28 - Meet Rachel Pienta & Han Nguyen02:29 - What is a Stroke?04:19 - Stroke Symptoms and FAST Acronym05:04 - How Strokes Affect the Brain06:33 - Acute Stroke Treatment and Rehab Phases09:53 - Common Stroke Recovery Challenges10:57 - What is Spasticity?12:11 - Why Dr. Han Started Her Practice15:45 - What is Vivistim and How It Works22:39 - Clinical Results and Patient Success StoriesNeubility Rehabilitation and WellnessAddress: 9079 Belcher Road N, Pinellas Park FL 33782 Phone: 727-616-0809 Website: www.neubilityrehab.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/neubilityrehabConnect with Dr. RellerPodcast website: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprou... My linktree: linktr.ee/kerryrellermdLinkedIn: /kerryrellermd  Facebook: /clearwaterfamilymedicine  Instagram: /clearwaterfamilymedicine  Tiktok: /kerryrellermd  Clearwater Family Medicine and Allergy Website: https://sites.google.com/view/clearwa...Podcast: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprou...