Ever wondered how our ancestors dealt with the 'struck down' mystery of a stroke back in the Middle Ages? 🏰📜 In those days, a stroke or brain haemorrhage was known as Apoplexy, and because it happened so suddenly, people often believed the person had been struck by a divine or supernatural blow...⚡🧠
Medieval doctors followed the theory of the four humours and believed apoplexy was caused by an excess of cold, moist 'phlegm' blocking the flow of spirit to the brain. To fix this, they turned to intense treatments like bloodletting from specific veins or using cupping to draw out the bad humours. 🩸😱 They also used pungent smells like vinegar or burnt feathers to try and 'wake' the patient from their stupor. 👃🔥
But when it came to rehabilitation, they actually understood more than one might think - while they didn't have modern neurophysio, fascinating, famous medical texts like those by Avicenna suggested that survivors should be treated with warm oil massages, gentle exercise and specific diets to regain their strength. 🧴🥖 They recognised that the body needed to be 're-warmed' to regain movement in paralysed limbs.
We even have incredible physical evidence that people survived and were cared for long-term... archaeological studies of medieval skeletons often show disuse atrophy in arm or leg bones, proving that individuals lived for years with hemiplegia. One really famous example is a 2,700-year-old Egyptian mummy buried with a custom-made wooden crutch, showing that their communities didn't just give up on them; they provided the tools to keep them mobile. These are also found in medieval graves/tombs 🩼❤
Contemporary accounts from 'miracle' books at shrines also describe people who had lost their speech or the use of their limbs being brought to holy sites for healing. While they called it a miracle, these records give us a fascinating look at stroke survivors navigating a world without modern medicine. It just goes to show that the human spirit and the drive to recover have been prett#ARNIstrokerehabf#MedievalHistoryy#medicalhistoryr#archaeologyRNIStrokeRehab #MedievalHistory #MedicalHistory #Archaeology
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⚠️ PLEASE READ: A Vital Health Warning for the Days After Christmas ⚠️So, while the big day is over (with apparently some 240 people having a stroke on Christmas day in the UK), the danger isn't - did you know that right now, the period between Boxing Day and New Year, is one of the highest-risk times for strokes in the UK... 🧠❄️
Why is this danger spike happening right now? Well, days of leftover turkey, salty snacks, and celebratory drinks put massive strain on your blood pressure. 🧀🍷 And obviously, alcohol-induced heart rhythm issues (like AFib) are a major trigger for strokes. And also, the current winter snap causes blood vessels to constrict, increasing the risk of clots. 🌡️🧊
And an obvious NHS Reality Check 🏥🚨: it's a scary time to be ill. As we head into 2026, our NHS is under immense pressure: response times are still struggling, and every minute saved is brain function saved. 🚑 A&E departments are facing record-high winter pressures, meaning long waits and bed shortages even after you arrive. With many staff on leave or off sick, ARNI Stroke Rehab UK knows that specialist stroke wards are right now stretched to the limit.
But don't 'Wait and See' 🚫🤫 We do hear about people waiting until after the holidays to 'bother' a doctor because they don’t want to disrupt the family or deal with a busy hospital. Please share this post to people to remind them NOT to do this... people need to know that if they wait, it might be too late for life-saving clot-busting treatments.
Stay safe and and look out for your elderly relatives this week ❤ Let's make it to 2026 healthy! ✨
For more advice on stroke prevention and stroke rehabilitation, visit ARNI Stroke Rehab UK Charity.
www.arni.uk.com
#ARNIStrokeRehab #NHS #ActFAST #UKHealth
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THE ARNI ARMY XMAS MOUSE SAYS HAPPY XMAS TO ALL STROKE SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND TO ALL ARNI PT INSTRUCTORS! ;)
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Happy Xmas from ARNI Stroke Rehab UK! This pic was created by young stroke survivor @Alex Roantree-Roesch, a young stroke survivor who first came to ARNI Stroke Rehab Charity as a very young lad - and still comes along to training to this day - Happy Xmas to Alex, his mum and dad - and @Sally Roesch (who is also on ARNI Stroke Rehab & Recovery Facebook too) 😉Alex made this as a Xmas card using his more-affected hand, practising placing his fingers flat enough on the paper to make Santa's beard! Well done Alex! This image served as the ARNI Xmas card for at least 5 consecutive years because we liked it so much!
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✨ Staying Connected and Strong Together This Christmas! ✨ Christmas time season can be a bit of a whirlwind, and for many in our stroke survivor community, it sometimes brings feelings of isolation or the heavy pressure to keep up with the festivities.
When your energy levels have changed, communication feels like an uphill battle, or your confidence isn't quite where it used to be, the bright lights and loud rooms can feel a little overwhelming. 🎄💔 ARNI Stroke Rehab UK charity reminds you you are not alone in feeling this way and that your journey is valid exactly as it is. One of the most powerful things we can do as survivors is to reach out and lift each other up during these weeks. 🤝💪
Whether it is sending a simple text to a fellow survivor just to say 'I'm thinking of you' or sharing a quiet moment of understanding that doesn't require any words at all, these small acts of connection can break through the feeling of being left out. Let’s remind one another that it is perfectly okay to step away for a rest when neuro-fatigue hits or to take all the time you need to find your words. 🧠💤 🛡️✨
To help keep that sense of community alive, ARNI Stroke Rehab UK is staying right by your side throughout the entire holiday period! 📱🌟 We will be continuing to write and share Facebook posts about stroke issues every single day over Christmas and all the way into the New Year. We want to ensure that whenever you log on, you find a helpful tip, a bit of encouragement, or a reminder that there is a whole family of survivors rooting for you. 🗓️🚀
If you are looking for a way to truly tackle those feelings of isolation and build your confidence back up for 2026, a fantastic way to do that is to get matched with a low-cost ARNI stroke rehab instructor. 🏋️♂️🏠
You can start planning your next steps by visiting the ARNI Stroke Rehab UK website today.... and please ask questions of us - Dr Tom and his staff are available for you via email throughout Xmas if you need them L🧠💪
www.arni.uk.com
#ARNIStrokeRehab #StrokeRecovery #ChristmasSupport #Neuroplasticity #StrokeAwareness #CommunityStrength #NeverGiveUp
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In order to efficiently rewire the brain, you need high repetition because that’s how the brain rewires itself. Each time you repeat a movement, the connections in the brain become stronger. If you aren’t consistent, then the connections quickly grow weaker and fail to produce results.
www.arni.uk.com
#arnistrokecharity #neuroplasticity #strokesurvivors #neurorehab #strokesurvivorscan #neurorehabilitation #strokeexercise
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Are you or a loved one looking for a way in the New Year to keep making gains in your stroke recovery journey? 📈 The ARNI (Action for Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury) approach is making waves in the survivor community for its extremely cost effective, yet life-changing results! 🌊🤝
Unlike some traditional therapies that might slow down after you leave the hospital, ARNI is all about taking charge of your own recovery. 🏠🛋️ It focuses on:
🎯 Functional Task Training: Practicing the real-world skills you need every day; like reaching for a cup and drinking from it with your affected hand or standing up safely!
🏋️ Stroke-Specific Strength Training: Building the power and stability needed to move with confidence.
🛡️ Physical Coping Strategies: Learning innovative ways to manage challenges, including safe techniques for getting up from the floor.
Research shows that intensive, task-specific practice can drive neuroplasticity; the brain's amazing ability to rewire itself even years after a stroke, and that's exactly what the one-to-one ARNI Approach is well-evidenced-based to do for you! 🧠💥
Ready to find a specialist instructor like Lucas (pictured), and learn more about this evidence-based method? Check out the ARNI Institute website for resources and local support. 🇬🇧🗺️ Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible! 🚀🙏
www.arni.uk.com
#ARNIStrokeRecovery #ARNIApproach #Neuroplasticity #StrokeSurvivor #PhysicalTherapy #Independence #BrainHealth #NeverGiveUp
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Knowledge is power.; and even more so for stroke recovery!
In the field of stroke rehabilitation there are new advances, major and minor, emerging regularly. You need to keep as current as possible. You need to know what you need. And if you find things that seem appropriate to your needs, investigate them further to work out whether they’re suitable applications to streamline your retraining or self-management.
www.arni.uk.com
#strokesurvivorscan #neurorehab #strokeexercise #strokerecovery #strokerehabilitation #neuroplasticity #ARNIstrokerehab #strokesurvivors #arnistrokecharity
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