Tom says: 'I know challenges of spasticity and/or flaccidity after a stroke can be incredibly tough, both physically and emotionally. Your journey can feel overwhelming, dealing every moment with limbs that are either stiff and uncooperative or heavy and unresponsive. But, each and every forward step you make, no matter how small, is a victory worth celebrating. 💪❤️
For those experiencing spasticity, you're not alone; we’re also fighting against muscle stiffness, involuntary movements and all the other stuff. ARNI Stroke Rehab knows the frustration of a hand that won't relax or a foot that won't cooperate. Remember that each stretch, each moment of trying to release that tension, is your brain rewiring itself. Your persistence is a powerful tool for change. Keep moving... even/especially when it's difficult - break some barriers. 💖
For those dealing with flaccidity... at ARNI we personally know the struggle of feeling disconnected from a limb that feels heavy or lifeless. We understand the fear that comes with a lack of voluntary movement, but every passive stretch and every conscious effort to imagine movement you make are signals you're sending to your brain. You are actively working to build new pathways and reawaken that connection. Never underestimate the power of your intentions! ✨
And let's celebrate the little wins; a slight twitch, a moment of less stiffness, a hand that feels a little bit lighter. Each one is proof of your strength. YOU are a warrior and your fight inspires others to do better.
Remember too that the evidence shows there is no fixed timeline for recovery; what matters most is that you keep going. Your brain has been and continues to be incredibly resilient.... and with consistency and determination progress is possible, particularly with the companionship and help of your ARNI Instructor.... 🌟
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#ARNIstrokerehab #neurorehabilitation #StrokeSurvivor #Spasticity #Flaccidity #StrokeRecovery #Neuroplasticity #KeepFighting #Warrior #RehabJourney #HopeAfterStroke
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Try performing a serious task-related exercise series; challenge yourself to touch places on your own body that may extend your current capability. All extensions of current range of motion are great. You can try to work your affected hand in functional movements: you can literally do anything. Go freestyle. This is where training is fun!
An example of such training would be to scratch your tummy, then pull the top of your t-shirt or sweatshirt out to the front, pull the good side sleeve down, pull it up, scratch the ear on your good side ear. You can go quickly, go slowly; touch body-parts only with the palm of your hand, touch only with the side (usually the side of your little finger); lift your affected-side knee up quickly and try and touch the outside thigh; try and touch the top of your head, comb your hair with your fingers; reach round the back of your neck; clean out your ears with your finger, wipe your finger on your trousers (only kidding). You can see that the permutations are endless.
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If you like this post then please share it with others. Each time that you share a post, you can directly help other people – as who knows which people in the world might find us and gain, either directly from the charity or simply by being able to copy an ‘innovative and useful’ move/trick of the trade that might help them manage after stroke.
Every time you share, you could directly help someone – as knowledge is power ;)
#neurorehab #strokerehabilitation #strokerehab #ARNIstrokerehab #neuroplasticity #strokerecovery #strokesurvivors #strokeexercise #strokearmrehab
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Calling all ARNI stroke survivors and supporters in Northern Ireland! 👋 Just letting you know about a new trial at Queen's University, Belfast which needs survivors right now. It could help improve your arm movement using a brain-powered computer game…
This trial, funded by Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke, involves wearing a simple headset that reads your brain activity. 🧠🎮 As you imagine moving your affected arm, the headset picks up those brain signals. These signals are then used to control a fun computer game! This process, called ‘motor imagery’, helps to keep the parts of your brain responsible for movement active, even when actual movement isn't yet possible.
A fellow survivor, Rodney Hamilton, has already praised the experience: 'It's very, very good... I would encourage others to take part in the project.'
If you're in Northern Ireland and are looking for a unique and innovative way to continue your recovery journey, this trial is a brilliant opportunity… any survivor who has some arm or hand weakness is eligible.
To get involved or find out more, visit forms.office.com/e/zbK3pRXfRY or contact Caoimhe McCarney at cmccarney07@qub.ac.uk
www.arni.uk.com
#ARNIstrokerehab #neurorehabilitation #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #Neuroplasticity #BCI #BrainComputerInterface #GamingForGood #QueensUniversityBelfast #RehabTech #NorthernIreland #HopeAfterStroke
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Free weights not only allow you to do the movement in a way that is more natural to you, they also allow for slight variations in the exercise, which many machines (found in gyms) do not. Do you use free weights??
If you want some help so you know what to do that's best for you then give us a call on 0203 053 0111 or email support@arni.uk.com and we'll let you know if there's a trainer near you who#strokel#strokesurvivorss#strokerecovery##strokerehabilitationerehabilitation
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📢 Important Health News: Air Pollution Linked to Increased Stroke Risk in the UK. New research presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress reveals a worrying link between air pollution and an increased risk of stroke for millions of us in the country.
A decade-long study of nearly 300,000 people found that those living in the most polluted areas of the UK were 7% more likely to suffer a stroke compared to those in areas with cleaner air. The same study also found an increased risk of heart failure.
This is a stark reminder that the air we breathe has a profound effect on our health, particularly our cardiovascular system. The fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which comes from vehicle exhaust and other sources, can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation and blood vessel damage, increasing the risk of cardiovascular events.
The British Heart Foundation and other organisations are calling for stricter air quality targets; this isn't just an environmental issue, it's a public health emergency. Let's work together for cleaner air and reduction in strokes! 💨
ww#airpollution
#StrokeRiski#CardiovascularHealtho#cleanairUKl#publichealthK#hearthealtht#environmentalhealthr#bhfn#arnia#ARNIstrokerehabA#strokerecovery##strokesurvivor#StrokeSurvivor
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Check out this amazing innovation! KnitRegen, a start-up from the Royal College of Art and University of Central Lancashire, is developing a smart textile wristband (called the ‘PowerBead’) to help stroke survivors recover arm and hand movement.
This isn't just a gadget; it's a game-changer for those with moderate-to-severe arm impairment who often have limited treatment options. The smart textile delivers targeted muscle stimulation outside of therapy sessions, meaning continuous rehabilitation throughout the day.
The technology is integrated into a wearable that looks like a regular accessory, so it doesn't feel like a medical device. In a small wearable that can be worn discreetly alongside daily activities, it has the ability to excite and inhibit muscle activity, thereby strengthening weakened muscles and/or inhibiting overactive muscles.
This first-of-its-kind wearable device for stroke survivors could help up to 50% of stroke survivors recover movement in their arms and hands; early studies showed that KnitRegen's tech significantly strengthened connections between the brain and arm muscles in a short amount of time.
Like the VTS Glove we showed a couple of days ago, the PowerBead is still undergoing further development and clinical testing, but it offers a potential breakthrough for millions of stroke survivors worldwide seeking to regain movement and independence.
www.arni.uk.com
#ARNIstrokerehab #neurorehabilitation #StrokeRecovery #WearableTech #Neuroplasticity #KnitRegen #Strokesurvivor #Innovation #Hope #RehabJourney #SmartTextiles #MedTech
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A MAJOR GOAL for all stroke survivors who can’t do it is to try to get up from the floor without assistance. If this is something you want to learn how to do it's covered in The Successful Stroke Survivor book AND in online video no.1.
So, you now have choices: book or online video?? Which will you choose?
arni.uk.com/product-category/arni-recommended/
#NeuroRehab #strokerecoveryexercises #neurorehab #strokesurvivorscancan #exerciseafterstroke #Neuroplasticity #StrokeRehab
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Remember, every time you walk around, you need to be extremely aware of your environment. Awareness is everything, and it allows you to avoid trouble of all sorts. As far as dealing with obstacles and rough, broken surfaces are concerned, keep your head up as much as possible.
It's so natural to look down and try to avoid obstacles by lengthening or shortening your stride. This is the quickest way to stumble and lose balance. In an effort to supplement the knowledge about the ground, you are sending urgent signals to your foot, which seems to be slowed, so that you can end up confusing yourself!
It's so natural to look down and try to avoid obstacles by lengthening or shortening your stride. This is the quickest way to stumble and lose balance. In an effort to supplement the knowledge about the ground, you are sending urgent signals to your foot, which seems to be slowed, so that you can end up confusing yourself! Does this sound familiar to you? I am consistently changing my mind at the last minute about exactly where to place my weaker foot in order not to break my stride.
Unbelievably, your brain seems to be able to cope with uneven surfaces better by using instinctive adjustments. If you are an intermediate stroke survivor (ie., you’ve been retraining for at least a year, even two years), try walking over uneven terrain with your eyes fixed on the ground and note the problems you encounter. Then walk over the same kind of surface with your gaze fixed the horizon, using the very periphery of your vision to check you are walking in the right way.
From The Successful Stroke Survivor by Tom Balchin
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#strokerecovery #strokerehab #neurorehab #ARNIstrokerehab #strokerehabilitation #strokeexercise #neuroplasticity #walkingafterstroke
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You are the single most important person in your recovery process. It does not matter if you have a supportive partner, great family members, incredibly supportive friends or the best rehab team in the world. If you are not motivated, then none of it matters.
So never give up. Stroke recovery may last years and every day is a chance to get better. Even if you feel that you have plateaued, most likely are wrong, push through and tell yourself tomorrow is another chance to recover some more
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#neurorehab #strokerehab #strokerehabilitation #arnistroke #strokeexercise #Neuroplasticity #ARNIstrokerehab #strokerecovery #ARNIstrokerehab
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Stroke warrior @Richard Hargreaves, pictured said to me once that recovery is a marathon, not a sprint 🏃♀️. Sometimes, the journey can feel long and overwhelming, but it's the small, incremental successes that pave the way for bigger achievements. Each tiny victory is a step forward, a testament to your brain's incredible neuroplasticity and your unwavering determination.
Today, let's celebrate the little things that often go unnoticed but mean so much:
Wiggling a finger that was once still 🙌
Taking a few steps without aid 🚶♂️
Holding a cup with a steady hand ☕
Speaking a word or two more clearly 🗣️
A moment of feeling more like you again ✨
These aren't just small wins; they're monumental milestones on the road to recovery. They show that progress is happening, even when it feels slow. Don't be discouraged by the distance yet to travel. Instead, look back at how far you've come and celebrate every single step forward, no matter how small.
Keep pushing, keep believing, and never underestimate the power of those ti#ARNIstrokerehab❤#neurorehabilitationR#strokerehabb#strokerecoveryt#incrementalsuccess##smallvictories##Neuroplasticitys#strokesurvivore#nevergiveupt#RehabJourneyS#brainhealtherGiveUp #RehabJourney #BrainHealth
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