ARNI founder Dr Tom trains in his gym with one of his antique kettlebells.
Many high-powered studies show that strengthening interventions increase strength and improve activity after stroke.
For example, see this now classic systematic review in the Australian Journal of Physiotherapy from 2006 which asked the questions: is strength training after stroke effective (ie, does it increase strength), is it harmful (ie, does it increase spasticity), and is it worthwhile (ie, does it improve activity)?
Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised trials.
Participants: Stroke participants were categorised as (i) acute, very weak, (ii) acute, weak, (iii) chronic, very weak, or (iv) chronic, weak.
Intervention: Strengthening interventions were defined as interventions that involved attempts at repetitive, effortful muscle contractions and included biofeedback, electrical stimulation, muscle re-education, progressive resistance exercise, and mental practice.
Outcome measures: Strength was measured as continuous measures of force or torque or ordinal measures such as manual muscle tests. Spasticity was measured using the modified Ashworth Scale, a custom made scale, or the Pendulum Test. Activity was measured directly, eg, 10-m Walk Test, or the Box and Block Test, or with scales that measured dependence such as the Barthel Index.
Results: 21 trials were identified and 15 had data that could be included in a meta-analysis. Effect sizes were calculated as standardised mean differences since various muscles were studied and different outcome measures were used. Across all stroke participants, strengthening interventions had a positive effect on both strength and activity. There was very little effect on spasticity.
Conclusions: Strengthening interventions increase strength, improve activity, and do not increase spasticity. These findings suggest that strengthening programs should be part of rehabilitation after stroke.
Tom's Conclusion: Yep. The evidence has been there for yonks now. Retrain - as safely, appropriately and as progressively as you can. An ARNI Stroke Rehab & Recovery instructor can help you here! All ARNI Stroke Rehab & RecoveryARNI Stroke Rehab & Recovery instructors train too and keep well up to date with the 'training' world, as well as up to date with neurorehab via regular CPD.
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#neuroplasticity #strokerecovery #strokerehabilitation #ARNIstrokerehab #arnistroke #neurorehab #strokeexercise #arnistrokecharity ##neuroplasticity #strokerecovery #strokerehabilitation #ARNIstrokerehab #arnistroke #neurorehab #strokeexercise #arnistrokecharity ##ARNIstrokerehabarnistrokerehab
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Core exercises for stroke survivors help improve stability throughout the body, which helps improve balance and gait (your manner of walking). Building core strength and coordination through trunk control exercises can also help reduce your risk of falling and prevent further injury or complications.
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#neurorehabilitation #strokeexercise #strokerehabilitation #exerciseafterstroke #neurorehab #neuroplasticity #strokerecovery #strokerecoveryexercises #ARNIstrokerehab #strokerehab
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Whenever you’re sitting at a table, it’s a great time to do some hand exercises. You can use various household items like coins, paper clips, silverware or pens to practice a variety of fine motor skills. For example, you can practice gripping a pen, sliding it across the table, and releasing it. Additionally, you can work on using your thumb and fingers to spin the pen in a circle on the table in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Practicing tracing and writing can also be effective for improving fine motor coordination skills.
The key is to consistently perform high repetitions of targeted exercises. High repetition is key to recovery because it helps activate neuroplasticity, the mechanism the brain uses to rewire itself and recover.
If you struggle with severe spasticity, which often results in clenched hands after stroke, you can start with passive exercises and stretching. Passive exercise involves assisting your affected hand though a movement, either with the help of a therapist or by using your non-affected hand.
Not sure what you need to do and need some help? Ccall us on 0203 053 0111 or email support@arni.uk.com and we'll see if there's an instructor near you ,
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#neurorehabilitation #strokeexercise #strokerehabilitation #exerciseafterstroke #neurorehab #neuroplasticity #strokerecovery #strokerecoveryexercises #arnistrokerehab
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The ARNI Instructor exists for YOU. By accessing ARNI you should expect to:
1 Correct your balance and posture
2 Improve your co-ordination and timing
3 Increase your flexibility and stamina
4 Increase your muscular, tendon and ligament strength
5 Increase your confidence and remove your
fear of the consequences of exercising
6 Increase your ability to perform everyday
tasks and progressively more self-sufficient
7 Become productive in an occupation or pastime
8 Increase your self-esteem and be happy with life
Call us on 0203 053 0111 to find out if there's a trainer who can help you achieve your goals; or email support@arni.uk.com
#neurorehabilitation #strokeexercise #strokerehabilitation #exerciseafterstroke #neurorehab #neuroplasticity #strokerecovery #strokerecoveryexercises #ARNIstrokerehab #strokerehab
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To boil recovery of stroke down (black and white style), Dr Tom wrote a couple of days ago that: you may well need to countenance attempting these 10 things below, over time. It’s a great ‘starter for 10’ way to look at the totality of recovery:
1. Understand how to produce, start, a very manageable, customised self-rehab programme (with the assistance of a physio or specialist neuro-rehab ARNI instructor).
2. Understand what, when and why you’re doing what you’re doing, instead of doing things ‘piece-meal’. You need your progress trajectory to be upwards.
3. Understand what factors you can play with, try out, evaluate and combine interventions (how to manipulate the concepts, principles and available adjuncts/interventions).
4. How to record & evaluate: the no. 2 of 2 of re-training. No. 1 is starting it and doing it.
5. Understand that specific goals will only come once you can see your way (ie, get some successes under your belt, which is why learning how to get down and up from the floor with no help or support is incredibly important). Many people, having been told they need to goal-set, don’t then build in the try/fail factor – and get annoyed/stop trying to self-rehab and/or engage with a physio or trainer on a weekly basis. Which isn’t good.
6. Understand how to, and initiate, weight-bearing, balance, co-ordination, postural and gait control over time.
7. Understand how to, and initiate, the decrease of upper limb spasticity/flaccidity if you have it & increase functional movement return over time.
8. Understand how to, and initiate, the increase of muscular, tendon, ligament and bone strength over time.
9. Understand how to, and initiate the increase of confidence and removal of the the fear of the consequences of exercising.
10. Understand how to become progressively more self-sufficient, make tremendous efforts to get that way, giving hope to those who love and care for you & then become productive in an occupation and/or hobby be happy with life and give back to others.
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#strokerehabilitation #strokeexercise #neurorehabilitation #neuroplasticity #neurorehab #strokerecoveryexercises #exercisestroke #strokerehab #strokerecovery #tombalchin
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Have YOU got aphasia?
Approximately 40% of stroke survivors experience this difficulty: to comprehend or produce spoken or written language caused by a cerebrovascular accident. In half of these cases the language impairment still persists one year post-stroke. Aphasia has wide-ranging effects on the ability to function and quality of life of stroke survivors and easily leads to social isolation.
If you need help, ARNI SLT Telerehab can now help YOU, right now, wherever you are in the world!
The latest evidence shows clearly that you can conquer aphasia very successfully with the help of speech and language therapy.
And it also shows that SLT Telerehab is just as effective as in-person, face to face treatment.
We have a team of highly experienced low-cost specialist SLTs (all post-grads from Universities such as UCL, the University of Cape Town etc) who are available to help you right now, in your home, via Zoom. You get a one to one hourly service, based around your diary needs, from the comfort of your own home, with a highly experienced specialist speech and language therapist. Please enquire to arni.uk.com/get-remote-speech-language-help-now/ !
#aphasia #strokesurvivors #strokerecovery #strokerehabilitation #strokerehab #aphasiaawareness #neurorehabilitation #arni #exerciseafterstroke #strokeexercise #strokerecoveryexercises #neuroplasticity #ARNIstrokerehab
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Stroke Recovery: The Evidence and the Big 10 - It’s a great ‘starter for 10’ way to look at the totality of recovery.
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