04/17/2026
Check out one of our studies in Stroke!
It’s not every day you see a researcher step into the shoes of their study participants. But that’s exactly what Amanda Herrmann, PhD, principal investigator at HealthPartners Institute, is doing.
Amanda is participating in a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course, gaining firsthand experience in the intervention she’s evaluating for people living with chronic stroke. “So far, I’ve completed seven out of the eight sessions, and I’ve really enjoyed it,” she shares. “I’ve been able to gain a lot of insight from the instructor, especially in regard to mindfulness practices.”
Chronic stroke refers to the stage of recovery six months or more after an initial stroke. It affects nearly 800,000 Americans each year, often altering the way people sense and understand signals from their own bodies. Amanda’s research seeks to discover whether MBSR can help. “This pilot study explores whether an MBSR program is feasible and acceptable in chronic stroke, and whether it may improve interoception, emotional well-being, and whole person health,” Amanda explains.
“We can’t guarantee benefits, but there have been a lot of improvements shown from other studies that have examined MBSR,” she says. “We hope that the information we gain from this study will help better support people living with chronic stroke.”
If you or someone you know might benefit from this study, check out the Institute’s website for details on how to participate: https://bit.ly/4v2ov2b
