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.
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#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.
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#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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Exercises are the best way to improve your gait after a stroke. An ARNI Trainer can recommend some appropriate exercises for you based on your ability level.
Call us on 0203 053 0111 or email support@arni.uk.com to find out if there's a trainer near you who can work with you on your recovery.
www.arni.uik.#strokerecoveryo#strokerehabr#strokerehabR#strokerecoveryexercisesc#neuroplasticityi#exerciseafterstroket#strokeexerciser#strokerehabrehab
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Join the conversation: What are your experiences or insights on implementing personalised FES for your more-affected lower-limb to date? Please let us know!
The use of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) for lower-limb rehabilitation post-stroke continues to evolve, with recent studies highlighting the benefits of multi-channel and personalised approaches. These advancements are moving beyond traditional ‘one-sise-fits-all’ devices to target specific neuromuscular deficits, leading to more natural and effective gait recovery.
A 2025 study on chronic stroke survivors showed that a multi-channel FES system, designed around muscle synergy principles, led to significant and sustained improvements in motor function. Patients exhibited more natural gait patterns and increased ankle dorsiflexion, even years after their stroke.
Also, we found research published in 2023 which demonstrated that combining FES with core muscle training significantly improved balance, walking ability, and overall lower-limb motor function compared to core training alone. This suggests that FES can enhance the benefits of traditional physical therapy.
Innovations in adaptive, closed-loop FES systems are being developed to enhance gait efficiency and speed. By providing more personalised and context-aware stimulation, these systems could offer superior therapeutic and orthotic benefits.
A 2024 meta-analysis also found that electrotherapy, including FES, significantly increased lower-limb muscle strength compared to conventional therapy in stroke patients. This tends to reinforce the modality's role in improving physical performance.
#FES #StrokeRehab #NeuroRehabilitation #PhysicalTherapy #Neurology #Research #GaitRecovery #FunctionalElectricalStimulation
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Post-stroke rehabilitation is a critical, multi-stage process, yet many survivors report feeling unsupported after formal, short-term hospital therapy ends. This can lead to decreased motivation, learned non-use of affected limbs, and a heightened fear of falling, which can all negatively impact long-term recovery.
The Action for Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury (ARNI) Institute was founded to address this significant gap in the patient pathway. ARNI offers an exciting, innovative, evidence-based program that supports stroke survivors in taking charge of their long-term recovery. The ARNI Approach is distinguished by its focus on three core principles:
Functional Task-Related Practice: Moving beyond passive treatment, ARNI engages survivors in repetitive, meaningful activities designed to retrain the brain and body. This leverages the brain's neuroplasticity... its ability to reorganise itself...to recover lost skills.
Physical Coping Strategies: ARNI instructors teach specific, practical techniques for managing daily life challenges, such as getting up from the floor safely with one-sided weakness. This builds physical resilience and confidence.
Stroke-Specific Resistance Training: Incorporating strength and conditioning exercises adapted for neurological limitations helps build stability and strength, empowering survivors to discard assistive devices and enhance their functional independence.
Implications for Clinical Practice & Research: The ARNI model challenges the traditional paradigm that recovery plateaus shortly after hospital discharge. Its success highlights the value of personalised, intensive, and long-term neurorehabilitation strategies. For clinicians and researchers, ARNI's integration of psychological support, functional training, and strength conditioning offers a powerful framework for enhancing patient outcomes and promoting self-reliance.
Learn more and explore the latest research at the ARNI Institute: www.arni.uk.com
#StrokeRehab #Neuroplasticity #Neurorehabilitation #StrokeRecovery #ARNI #EvidenceBased #FunctionalTraining #HealthcareInnovation
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A wave of systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials over the last few years has refined our understanding, confirming task-specific training (TST)'s efficacy while also shedding light on critical factors like intensity and technological integration.
Task-specific training involves repetitive, goal-directed practice of real-world functional tasks, such as grasping a cup or buttoning a shirt, rather than isolated, non-functional exercises. By promoting active problem-solving and engaging neural pathways in a meaningful context, TST harnesses the brain's plasticity to maximise motor recovery.
A recent systematic review in The American Journal of Occupational Therapy synthesised findings from 16 studies involving nearly 700 stroke survivors. The review found strong evidence supporting activity-based TST for improving UL motor function, motor performance, and activities of daily living (ADLs). and a May 2025 study in Clinical Rehabilitation found task-oriented training produced statistically and clinically meaningful improvements in UL function for patients with subacute stroke compared to conventional exercise programmes.
The latest research is also exploring ways to amplify the effects of TST by combining it with cutting-edge techniques; a 2023 network meta-analysis found that combining TST with electrical stimulation is a promising approach for improving UL motor function, especially for individuals within six months of stroke onset.
Interestingly, a group of newer studies are examining dual-task training (DTT), where individuals practice a task while performing a secondary activity. Preliminary results from a May 2025 study suggest DTT can effectively improve UL function and trunk performance in chronic stroke patients.
ARNI says that the evidence for task-specific training in stroke rehabilitation is undeniable. Recent research provides new avenues for enhancing its effects through technology and combination therapies. The message is clear for us stroke survivors: focusing on repetitive, meaningful, real-world tasks is a highly effective strategy for regaining a handle on life after stroke.
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