ANDREW (BY MARION). I found out about ARNI when I was calling around local physios trying to engage a mobile therapist for my step father, Andrew. It was proving impossible to find anyone willing to make visits to a residential care home. But one smart receptionist at a Lincoln practice knew about ARNI and told me I could contact the charity directly without a referral.
I hadn’t heard of ARNI before. Why had I never heard of ARNI? The NHS gives short term physio support after a stroke. But if recovery is taking a little longer for you, then you risk being prematurely abandoned. Told you have reached the extent of your recovery. This is nonsense. You have just reached the extent of NHS funding.
Andrew, 5 months post stroke, was spending 90%+ of his day in bed at the Nursing and Care Home where he is at. Demotivated. Believing he was as good as he could be. Grieving for the loss of his wife. Anticipating the same outcome for himself. On a slippery slope.
When I made my enquiry I couldn’t believe how straight forward the process was. The immediate answer was, ‘yes – we can help’. The registration and paperwork was simple. An ARNI physio was identified and Natalie agreed to work with Andrew on weekly visits.
Three months into physio with Natalie and Andrew spends 90% of his waking day out of bed. A complete turn around. He can mobilise unaided around his bedroom. He walks with a frame to the dining room for three meals a day. He is motivated to participate in social activities with other residents. He can take himself for a walk around the garden unaccompanied. Now he has the confidence to accept invitations to go out and can be collected by friends and go to public places.
I firmly believe that ARNI services should be universally accessible and recommended by the NHS. There was no signposting from the medical profession. This is information that people who have had a stroke need to know. Truly, the intervention of ARNI has been life changing. An enormous relief for family who live hundreds of miles away. An inspiration to Andrew, and a long term hope of an active future.
www.arni.uk.com
#StrokeRehabilitation #Neurorehabilitation #ARNI #StrokeRecovery
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New research is highlighting the many advantages of upper limb stroke rehab DIY: using a home-based, self-training programme with the weekly assistance of an ARNI Associate instructor coming to your house to guide you, instead of paying for traditional physiotherapy.
For a start, you can recover in a familiar environment, which can reduce stress and anxiety.
You can then obviously learn to master daily tasks in the actual setting where you perform them, which can lead to greater functional independence. This means you can build the skills and confidence to take an active role in your own long-term recovery journey.
Engaging, interactive, and intensive training using tech-assisted therapy can be done at home using innovative tools like telerehabilitation and gamified exercises, reducing financial and logistical burdens like travel costs, which can free- up resources…
While traditional inpatient care is necessary in the very early stages, supervised home-based training is a powerful next step. It's a game-changer for regaining strength, balance, and independence. 💪
www.arni.uk.#strokerehabilitationa#neurorehabilitationa#arni##strokerecoveryo#neuroplasticityi#strokerecoveryo#strokerehabR#hometrainingi#physicaltherapye#strokesurvivorv#HealthResearchearch
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Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals has this week announced the completion of a pioneering, state-of-the-art stroke rehabilitation facility.💚 This is the new Phoenix Therapy Suite, situated in the Fred and Ann Green Rehabilitation Centre at Montagu Hospital.
This first-of-its-kind NHS facility is making a real difference for patients by offering cutting-edge, robotic-assisted therapy that was once only available in private clinics.
The benefits include robotic gait trainers and upper limb devices which enable highly-focused and repetitive exercises to maximise recovery potential. The technology incorporates gaming elements to make therapy sessions more fun and interactive and survivors attending it are already seeing significant improvements in both their movement and mental functions.
It's a fantastic example of technology and clinical expertise combining to deliver a world-class rehabilitation service. Hats off to the DBTH Charity and the Fred and Ann Green Legacy for making this possible 👏
www.arni.uk#strokerehabilitationa#neurorehabilitationa#arni##strokerecoveryo#neuroplasticityi#strokerehabR#NHS #healthtechh#fredandanngreenrehabcentree#phoenixtherapysuiteS#montaguhospitalp#dbthcharitya#recoveryispossibles#neuroplasticityicity
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AI software is now being used to interpret brain scans and has been shown to potentially triple stroke recovery rates 🧠✨
The new tech helps doctors make faster and more accurate decisions by processing brain scans over an hour quicker than current methods. This speed is critical because, during a stroke, millions of brain cells can be lost every minute.
The result? Better outcomes for thousands of patients. In one analysis, the number of stroke patients recovering with little to no disability went from 16% to 48%
This isn't just a pilot project: it's apparently being rolled out in hospitals across the country right now 🏥🤖
www.ar#strokerehabilitationb#neurorehabilitationb#arnit#strokerecoveryk#neuroplasticitypl#AIinHealthcareH#strokerecoveryk#MedicalBreakthroughe#AIh#NHSh#HealthcareInnovationI#timeisbrainimeIsBrain
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Based on recent research, the SoftHand-X offers a promising new approach to task-specific practice for stroke patients, particularly for those with severe hand impairment. Recent studies highlight its potential to reduce spasticity, improve hand function, and enhance patient participation in rehabilitation.
The SoftHand-X is a supernumerary robotic limb, which is a wearable device that augments the human body with robotic fingers. The patient's residual, minimal active finger or wrist extension movements are used to control the device's finger extension, while relaxing their extensor muscles controls the robotic hand's flexion.
A 2022 pilot study published in Scientific Reports utilised the SoftHand-X to administer task-specific training (TST) to sub-acute stroke patients who lacked sufficient active finger extension to perform these tasks unaided. Patients using it showed a decrease in spasticity, with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) scores improving from a baseline of 1 (mild spasticity) to 0 (no spasticity) in most patients shortly after treatment. This reduction in spasticity was also supported by electromyographic (EMG) recordings, which showed a decreased stretch reflex in the wrist and/or finger flexors.
In a usability study, patients rated the SoftHand-X as "well-accepted" and "good" for its usability and showed excellent participation levels; demonstrating high motivation for the intensive, goal-directed motor tasks facilitated by the device. Another study found the SoftHand-X could partially compensate for severely impaired hand function in chronic stroke patients and reduce spasticity.
These soft robotic devices represent a paradigm shift towards personalised, accessible, and engaging neurorehabilitation, with the potential to improve recovery outcomes and quality of life for stroke survivors.www.arni.uk.com
#SoftRobotics #SoftHandX #StrokeRehab #TaskSpecificPractice #Neurorehabilitation #PhysicalTherapy #OccupationalTherapy #StrokeRecovery #Research #MedicalInnovation #Neurology #RehabilitationTechnology
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A new soft, wearable robotic device, ‘Reachable’, (shown) is a breakthrough in personalised neurorehabilitation.
In prototype form at the moment, the tech from researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Wyss Institute may possibly transform upper-limb rehabilitation potential for stroke survivors.
Instead of a bulky exoskeleton, Reachable is a lightweight, fabric-based garment that uses inflatable actuators and advanced machine learning.
The device uses a physics-based model and machine learning to learn and adapt to each user's unique movements, providing assistance that feels natural. It helps patients with everyday tasks like eating, drinking, and reaching for objects, promoting greater independence.
By assisting movement, the technology helps re-engage and re-train muscles, reducing compensatory movements and increasing range of motion in the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. The portable and reasonably user-friendly design offers a new path for at-home rehabilitation, overcoming barriers like cost and travel for regular in-clinic therapy.
This research, just published in Nature Communications, represents a significant step toward more effective, accessible, and personalised rehabilitation. The team, supported by the NSF Convergence Accelerator, is now working to transition the technology from the lab to independent at-home use.
www.arni.uk.com
#StrokeRehab #SoftRobotics #HarvardResearch #WearableTech #Robotics #Neurorehabilitation #PhysicalTherapy #StrokeRecovery #ResearchImpact #Innovation
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A significant challenge in post-stroke care is the availability of sustained, evidence-based rehabilitation following initial clinical pathways. ARNI (Action for Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury) Stroke Rehab Charity UK directly addresses this gap by empowering stroke survivors to regain functional independence and action control, often years after their long-term recovery.
ARNI’s innovative, user-driven approach is grounded in task-specific training, strength training, and personalised coping strategies, all aligned with the latest neurorehabilitation research on brain plasticity. By training a dedicated network of specialist instructors & therapists, ARNI ensures that its methodology, which encourages self-reliance and targeted practice, can be delivered within the community.
The documented successes of the ARNI framework, including pilot study findings and compelling testimonials, demonstrate tangible improvements in mobility, confidence, and overall quality of life for survivors who have often plateaued with conventional therapies. This provides a robust model for advancing long-term rehabilitative care.
Individuals and families seeking to improve long-term recovery outcomes are invited to review the evidence base and testimonials on the ARNI website to understand its efficacy and if you want to work hard to improve your long-term recovery outcome, you’re also invited to explore our functional retraining strategies by getting matched up with an ARNI Associate Instructor ;)
www.arni.uk.com
#StrokeRehabilitation #Neurorehabilitation #ARNI #StrokeRecovery #Neuroplasticity #FunctionalTraining #HealthcareInnovation #EvidenceBasedPractice #LongTermRecovery
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Using repetitive, simultaneous movement of both limbs seems to work well for stroke survivors. Just one way that this is done in the ARNI programme is via bilateral movement training: a concept based on the theory of inter-limb coordination. Cumulative evidence from a review of several studies that investigated results from bilateral movement training for the partially paralysed upper body indicates that bilateral movement training is effective in improving motor capabilities and functional outcome in the sub-acute or chronic (6 months or longer from stroke onset) phase of recovery.
WWW.arni.uk.com
#neuroplasticity #strokerehab #strokerecovery #neurorehabilitation #exerciseafterstroke #strokeexercise #strokerehab #strokerecoveryexercises #rehabilitation #neurorehabilitation
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Based on recent research, tendon transfer surgery offers a possibly valuable option for managing severe upper limb and hand spasticity following a stroke, particularly as a complementary intervention when non-surgical treatments are insufficient.
A clinical review from 2024 emphasises that surgical interventions for post-stroke spasticity and contracture are often under-utilised and that tendon transfer can be a powerful intervention for specific, residual impairments like contracture (which we see quite a bit at ARNI) that persist after conservative treatments like OT have failed.
Successes with tendon transfer surgery are dotted throughout the research; for example, a recent case study published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports (May 2025) details a step-by-step approach combining repeated botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injections and occupational therapy with tendon transfer surgery. The surgery effectively addressed residual wrist impairments, resulting in significant functional recovery and improved daily living activities for the patient. It significantly enhanced the survivor's grip strength, range of motion, and ability to perform intricate hand and finger movements.
Beyond physical function, surgery has been shown to enhance survivors' psychological well-being, body image, and social interactions. By making daily tasks easier, it can improve their occupational performance and allows them to regain roles previously lost to their condition.
ARNI insists that rehabilitation specialists should be aware of the functional benefits of surgery and consider it as part of an integrated, multidisciplinary treatment plan for patients with long-term, severe spasticity.
www.ar#tendontransfero#strokerehabilitationb#handspasticityS#upperlimb##physicalmedicinea#occupationaltherapyn#neurorehabilitationb#strokerecoveryk#ResearchUpdatea#SurgicalReconstructionnstruction
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Have you tried Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)? Let us know if you have please! Where did you do it; at a clinic or at home? What did you think of it? Did you get any results??
Multiple studies affirm that both traditional CIMT and modified CIMT (mCIMT) are effective for improving upper limb function, arm-hand activities, and daily life performance for us stroke survivors. And emerging trends show that CIMT's effectiveness can be enhanced when combined with other therapies:
o Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI): Integrating CIMT with BCI shows promise, particularly in improving real-world functional outcomes.
o Telerehabilitation and VR: CIMT delivered via telerehabilitation and virtual reality (VR) offers similar effectiveness to traditional in-clinic therapy, improving accessibility and motivation for patients.
o Electrical Stimulation: Combined therapies using CIMT and peripheral nerve stimulation show superior improvements in motor function.
So, the field of CIMT is rapidly evolving, but ARNI has found, when examining research and practice, that questions remain about the optimal dosage and timing of CIMT interventions.
www.arni.uk#strokerehabR#neuroplasticityi#cimt##physicaltherapye#occupationaltherapye#neurosciencei#RehabilitationResearchearch
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