You should be aiming to start challenging yourself at least 10 to 20 times every day with do-able, simple ‘tester tasks’ around the house with your affected hand if you have upper limb spasticity and/or flaccidity. These need to be as varied as reaching for, holding and switching on an alarm clock, to pulling up and putting down a lavatory seat. When starting out, please don’t do potentially dangerous tasks like opening the oven with it or close a car door – we do not want you to damage your arm or hand, but challenge it. If you feel brave, try the risky stuff, but there are loads of things that you can do to increase action control of your hand without hurting yourself.
www.arni.uk.com
#strokerecovery #arnistrokerehab #neuroplasticity #strokerehab #neurorehab #strokerehabilitation #strokeexercise #ARNIstrokerehab
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Research continues to validate the effectiveness of advanced wearable technology, like the Neofect Smart Glove for upper-limb rehab 🧠💪
Smart Glove is a San Fran-based high-tech stroke rehab product for your hand that follows your hand motions, measuring the slightest movements in your hand with accelerometer and bending sensors while performing gamified exercises.
A recent study published in the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation showed significant functional gains for patients using the glove alongside conventional therapy compared to conventional therapy alone. It proved a motivating way to perform progressive hand exercises at home.
The Smart Glove uses engaging, game-based virtual reality to provide high-repetition, task-specific practice, a crucial component for inducing neuroplasticity. Integrated sensors monitor individual finger and wrist movements, giving patients and clinicians real-time feedback and objective tracking data on progress.
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) analysis demonstrates increased brain activity in the motor cortex during Smart Glove training, providing objective evidence of cortical reorganization. Patients showed statistically significant improvements in standardised tests of hand function (e.g., Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test).
This tech for stroke offers a promising tool for increasing a survivor's motivation and extending rehabilitation beyond the clinic, hopefully accelerating recovery and improving quality of life.
www.arni.uk#arni##ARNIstrokerehabR#strokerecoveryo#strokesurvivorv#neurorehabR#NEOFECTo#neuroplasticityi#occupationaltherapye#researche#WearableTeche#evidencebasedpracticec#physicaltherapye#strokerecoveryovery
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Exciting advancements in stroke rehabilitation at Surrey's Frimley Park Hospital! A new £1 million stroke rehab unit and dedicated rehab garden have opened, promising to enhance patient recovery and experience. This state-of-the-art facility provides specialised spaces for therapy and psychological assessments, creating a more supportive environment away from the main ward.
This move complements ongoing research led by the NHS Trust. The team is currently participating in the Avert Dose trial, a national study investigating the effects of early and high-intensity mobility training on post-stroke disability. Preliminary findings have already guided practical changes in physiotherapy sessions, showing improved functional recovery with adjustments to treatment timing.
The integration of advanced facilities and evidence-based practice highlights Frimley Health's commitment to improving stroke care. This new unit, funded by Frimley Health Charity and over 1,600 donors, provides the infrastructure to support cutting-edge rehabilitation and continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible in stroke recovery. 🧠💪
w#arnin#ARNIstrokerehabA#strokerecovery##strokesurvivor##neurorehabv#strokerehabilitatione#frimleyparkhospitall#ResearchUpdate##neurosciencee#physicaltherapyP#evidencebasedmedicinec#strokerecovery##NHSkeRecovery #NHS
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Not only can cardiovascular exercise increase the number of connections in your brain and improve your road to recovery, it can do so while creating a healthier cardiovascular system. Exercise also generates a boost of crucial neurochemicals in the brain as well as affecting the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
Read more about this in this previous blog on this topic: arni.uk.com/how-to-do-cardio-after-stroke/
#strokerehab #neurorehab #strokerehabilitation #strokerecovery #neuroplasticity #strokeexercise #strokerecovery #strokerecoveryexercises #exerciseafterstroke
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A new pilot programme at the Irvine Unit, Bexhill Hospital, is showcasing the power of collaborative, supervised exercise for stroke survivors. The Active Sussex Reconditioning Pilot demonstrates how targeted physical activity, delivered by health instructors alongside NHS physiotherapists, can significantly boost recovery. The pilot, which ran for six months, yielded significant, data-driven improvements.
Patients saw a substantial increase in their balance (balance across all survivors increased 50%), a critical factor for preventing falls and increasing mobility. Sit-to-Stand ability increased by 34%, indicating greater leg strength and functional independence in a key daily activity. The pilot also enabled greater independence for patients, with rehabilitation complexity reducing by 22%, potentially leading to faster and more successful discharges.
According to Karen Poole, AHP Rehabilitation Consultant at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, the pilot demonstrated the power of cross-sector collaboration. She notes that ‘increased access to physical and social activity for patients contributed to their mood, wellbeing and a positive culture across our workforce.’
This initiative proves the potential for integrating fitness and healthcare sectors, with plans to expand the model to other hospitals across Sussex. This project highlights how innovative approaches to addressing inactivity can improve patient mood and wellbeing, challenging traditional rehabilitation models.
Subject to future funding, there are plans to expand this model by live-streaming exercise sessions to other hospitals in the region. This would enable wider adoption of the successful approach and potentially help inspire other NHS trusts to rethink their rehabilitation programmes. 💪🧠
www.arni.uk.com
#ARNI #ARNIStrokeRehab #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #NeuroRehab #StrokeRehabilitation #ActiveSussex #BexhillHospital #NHS #Research #PhysicalActivity #EvidenceBasedPractice.
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The brain is working hard to heal itself after a stroke. Continue with your rehab exercises and don’t compare your stroke recovery to others’. And most importantly: never give up.
www.arni.uk.com
#neurorehab #neuroplasticity #arnistrokerehab #strokeexercise #strokerehabilitation #strokerecovery #strokerehab
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Recent data from the NHS reveals a worrying and significant trend in cardiovascular health: a 28% increase in hospital admissions for stroke over the last two decades. While advances in care have improved survival rates, the sheer volume of cases is putting immense pressure on healthcare systems and signalling deeper public health issues that demand our attention.
📈 Admissions surged from 87,069 in 2004/05 to 111,137 in 2023/24. 👴🏼 Part of this is due to an aging population, but significant spikes are occurring in younger cohorts.
💼 The highest increase was a staggering 55% among those aged 50-59, underscoring that stroke is not just a risk for the elderly. 🍎 Lifestyle factors like obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise are contributing to this growing burden on cardiovascular health.
Stroke is basically an ever-growing public health crisis impacting people at younger ages. It is a shared responsibility of healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public to take proactive steps to address the underlying causes and mitigate this alarming trend. 🎗️
www.arni.uk.com
#arni #ARNIstrokerehab #strokerecovery #strokesurvivor #neurorehab #StrokeResearch #PublicHealth #CardiovascularHealth #neurology #ResearchUpdate #NHS #StrokePrevention #evidencebasedmedicine
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Have you got yourself a copy of Dr. Tom Balchin's book, Had A Stroke? What Now? yet? What do you think of it? Maria writes a review for us here:
‘Had A Stroke? What Now? is nothing less than a roadmap to recovery for stroke survivors, their families and carers. Drawing on his personal experience of having a stroke at age 21 and two decades of working with other survivors through his charity ARNI (Action for Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury), Tom offers an evidence-based yet accessible guide to navigating the complexities of post-stroke life.
Blending his personal journey with scientific knowledge, it instills hope and motivation while providing concrete strategies and exercises for retraining the mind and body. It debunks the myth that recovery plateaus after a certain period, empowering survivors to push their boundaries and maximise their potential.
At around 220 pages, the book is designed to be accessible and easy to read, translating complex medical jargon into everyday English.
It covers every step of the stroke journey, from what happens in the hospital to rehabilitation at home and beyond. It also addresses topics like financial assistance, building successful relationships, and getting back to work.
The book acknowledges the crucial role of support systems and provides advice and information for families and carers navigating this life-changing event. It shows how rehab can be a committed hobby for survivors.
It's garnered praise from medical experts and stroke survivors alike: Professor Heidi Johansen-Berg, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Oxford University, calls it a ‘must-read for stroke survivors and their families’. Andrew Marr, a journalist and stroke survivor who wrote the Foreword, says it contains everything a survivor in modern Britain needs to know.
Had A Stroke? serves as a compass, guiding survivors toward empowerment, functional recovery, and a renewed sense of purpose. It's a reminder that with the right mindset and tools, there is always room for progress.
www.strokesolutions.co.uk/product/had-a-stroke-now-what-book/
#ARNI #ARNIStrokeRehab #StrokeRecovery #HadAStrokeWhatNow
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🚨 Do you know what UI and UX are?! A review paper about UI/UX design requirements for young stroke survivors has just been published...
UI (User Interface) is the visual, tangible aspect of a product that a user interacts with on a mobile phone or pc, including elements like buttons, icons, and colors, while UX (User Experience) is the overall, internal feeling a user has during their entire interaction with a product or service.
The systematic literature review, just published in Nature Digital Medicine, synthesizes findings from 25 studies to offer recommendations for developing ICT-based rehabilitation and self-management tools for younger stroke survivors (<55 years) and their carers.
The study found that participatory co-design with stroke survivors is essential to ensure interventions meet their specific needs and abilities and that digital tools must be further adapted for post-stroke impairments like aphasia, hemiparesis, and cognitive fatigue.
It also recommends that motivating game-like experiences are desirable to promote engagement and long-term adherence and that design must also address the UI/UX needs of young stroke survivors' carers, including information access and support tools 👩💻👨💻
www.arni.uk.com
#ARNI #ARNIStrokeRehab #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #NeuroRehab #UIUX #UserExperience #StrokeRehab #Neurorehabilitation #StrokeRecovery #DigitalHealth #Research #EvidenceBasedPractice #DesignForGood
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