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. 🎗️
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#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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The Saeboglove, at a reduced price of £64 found on Ortorex.uk site, is pretty good value for money we think at ARNI Stroke Rehab UK.
Evidence from the multicentre, randomised controlled SUSHI trial (Saeboglove™ Therapy For Upper Limb Disability And Severe Hand Impairment) provides support for its use for those of us with a flaccid or severely weak hand.
The study, which included patients 7 to 60 days post-stroke, found that self-directed, repetitive, and task-specific practice with the Saeboglove, alongside usual care, led to statistically and clinically significant improvements in upper limb function at six weeks compared to usual care alone.
Participants using the Saeboglove showed significantly greater gains in their Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) scores, a key measure of grasp, pinch, and gross movement ability. The positive effects on hand and arm function were largely sustained two months after the intervention period ended.
This research challenges traditional views on the limited potential for recovery in severely affected upper-limbs and highlights the importance of early, intense and functional-based therapy, even with a flaccid hand.
#arni #ARNIstrokerehab #strokerecovery #strokesurvivor #neurorehab #strokerehabilitation #occupationaltherapy #neuroplasticity #evidencebasedpractice #physicaltherapy #neurology #Research #SaeboGlove
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The best way to keep recovery going after a stroke is to stay moving.
If you feel lost and don't know where to start then call us on 0203 053 0111 or email support@arni.uk.com to find out if there's an instructor near you who can help you.
www.arn#strokeexercisek#neurorehabn#strokerehabilitationb#strokerecoveryk#neuroplasticityp#strokerehabt#exerciseafterstrokef#strokerecoveryexercisesyexercises
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Exercise: Pelvic Push-ups & Knee-control This exercise is a fantastic way to develop core strength whilst focusing on controlling the tendency of your affected leg to fall to the side in this position. . Doing this exercise allows you to become very aware of lateral weakness in your leg, something that is not evident just by standing up or walking. . Can you control the way your affected leg falls to the side? We see many stroke survivors who, whilst sitting, cannot prevent their affected knee from flopping right round the corner of the chair. This is usually due to weak adductor muscle.
Find out more about this exercise in The Successful Stroke Survivor book by Tom Balchin
www.arni.uk.com
#strokerecovery #neuroplasticity #ARNIstroke #strokerehab #strokeexercise #strokerehabilitation #neurorehab #arnistrokerehab
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Paul Jay writes to us to ask us to give 'A huge shout-out to my amazing ARNI Instructor, Chris Burford! 🌟 After my stroke, I honestly felt like I'd hit a plateau, and my confidence was low. But working with my ARNI Instructor has been a complete game-changer.
The sessions have been tough, but in the best way possible. Chris is showing me how to do things I never thought I could again, like getting up off the floor and improving my walking technique. It's really not just about the physical recovery; it's about rebuilding my confidence, too. 🧠💖
I'm making real progress and, for the first time in a while, I have genuine hope for an active future. ARNI isn't just rehabilitation; it's a new lease on life. I can't recommend it enough to anyone on their own stroke recovery journey. I have my own online Dashboard with a calendar of all my sessions on it on Stroke Solutions and just phone in when I want more sessions.'
Good one Paul - keep retraining! Btw, Chris and any other ARNI Associate can be secured ARNI matching and moni#arnig#ARNIstrokerehabo#strokerecoveryu#strokesurvivorN#neurorehabb#rehabilitationy#lifeafterstroke #keepmoving #recoveryjourney##thankyouStroke #KeepMoving #RecoveryJourney #ThankYou 💙✨
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In the News! The Sir Jules Thorn Centre for Co-Creation of Rehabilitation Technology, located at the Wolfson Centre at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, is pioneering stroke recovery at the moment, using innovative technology.
In partnership with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, the centre helps survivors with leading-edge, tech-enriched retraining programmes to help them regain independence.
The centre's use of advanced technology, including AI games and adapted controllers, helps survivors recover dexterity and mobility in an engaging and fun way. It is equipped with state-of-the-art rehabilitation technology (de-weighting systems, neuro-stimulation, virtual reality, treadmills, bespoke rehab games, communication apps, powered exercise equipment, gamified resistance equipment and measurement equipment.
All this tech is designed to be accessible and make rehab as enjoyable as possible, allowing individuals with varying degrees of fitness and mobility to engage with the exercises effectively, like treadmills with harnesses can identify and correct walking imbalances…offering personalised rehab that builds strength and confidence.
Many participants report significant improvements in mobility, confidence, and overall well-being, helping them get back to their favourite hobbies, like cycling and cooking.
🙌🧠🦾 www.arni.uk.com
#StrokeRehabilitation #Neurorehabilitation #ARNI #StrokeRecovery #StrokeRehab #SirJulesThornCentre #Glasgow #UniversityofStrathclyde #StrokeSurvivors #Innovation #RehabilitationTechnology #ChestHeartStrokeScotland #BetterTogether
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While physiotherapists are essential in the early stages, ARNI trainers step in when hospital therapy ends, focusing on continued recovery.
Traditional physiotherapy often ceases once a patient can mobilise. The ARNI approach specifically addresses the gap in care that can lead to a plateau or regression in recovery. An ARNI trainer teaches survivors functional retraining strategies, moving beyond passive treatment to help patients build the skills to continue their recovery independently.
ARNI training includes practical coping strategies for managing daily life, such as getting up from the floor safely by yourself and navigating steps. This focus on real-world tasks builds confidence and functional independence. While traditional sessions can sometimes be quite passive experiences and repetitive without significant progression, ARNI trainers provide personalised, one-on-one sessions that are constantly adapted and intensified based on the survivor's progress.
The ARNI approach incorporates stroke-specific strength and resistance training, which recent research has confirmed improves recovery outcomes. Many traditional rehab approaches have historically neglected this for fear of increasing muscle tone. Research also highlights how ARNI training is integrating cutting-edge technology, moving beyond the traditional clinic.
Ultimately, the research suggests that the most effective rehab is a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach. ARNI trainers work to support and complement the foundational work done by hospital therapists, creating a pathway for continued, active, and personalised recovery.
www.arni.uk#strokerehabilitationa#arni##neuroplasticityi#strokerecoveryo#Innovationa#rehabR#physicaltherapye#strokesurvivorv#HealthResearche#neurorehabilitationa#arniinstituteitute
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