has just started at the Borough Green training centre. Go for it Tom -looking forward to seeing your progress.
Tom Francis
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- November 16, 2015
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SBS hero Mark Bowra MBE being trained by Dr Tom Balchin OBE. For the savvy survivor like Mark, who understands that recovery is a marathon of grit rather than a series of miracles, navigating the complexities of a hemiparetic upper limb requires more than just passive stretching. Whether you are battling the constant internal pull of spasticity or the frustrating silence of a flaccid arm, the ARNI Approach focuses on the hard science of neuroplasticity to help you reclaim control. By utilizing evidence-based forced-use strategies and heavy repetitions of task-specific practice, we work to bypass damaged pathways and encourage the brain to find new ways to fire those dormant muscle groups 🧠
If you are dealing with spasticity, our instructors focus on high-load stretching and breaking the habitual flexor patterns that keep the wrist and fingers locked. Conversely, for those facing flaccid paralysis, we implement targeted sensory-motor retraining and gravity-eliminated exercises to coax the first flickers of movement back into the more-affected limb. We don't offer false promises of an overnight fix; instead, we provide a sophisticated and aggressive (not mutually exclusive in the world of evidence-based stroke rehab!) framework of physical training designed to turn earned non-use into functional, real-world strength that actually matters for your daily independence 🦾
The ARNI Teaching Institute ensures that every survivor is matched with a specialist who understands the biomechanics of a post-stroke body and the psychological resilience required to keep pushing. Our goal is to move you beyond the maintenance phase of traditional therapy and into a regime of progressive resistance and meaningful coordination drills. By treating you like the trainee you are, rather than a patient, we help you bridge the gap between clinical stabilization and the high-intensity practice needed to get your hand back into the game of life ✨
www.arni.uk#ARNIstrokerehabR#neuroplasticityi#strokerecoveryo#SpasticityManagemente#UpperLimbRehabRehab
Please, if you can, nominate ARNI. We may win!!!!
#neuroplasticity #strokeexercise #strokerecovery #neurorehabilitation #strokerecoveryexercises
Nominate a charity - Movement for Good
movementforgood.com
Nominate a charity for a Movement for Good award now.
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking blood test that tracks a specific biomarker called brain-derived tau, or BD-tau, to monitor brain injury after a stroke with incredible precision. While traditional brain scans give us a snapshot of the damage at one moment, this new test allows clinicians to see exactly how an injury evolves over the crucial hours and days that follow, providing a much clearer picture of what is happening inside the brain than ever before 🧠
This discovery helps predict long-term outcomes months or even years into the future. By measuring the levels of BD-tau in the blood, doctors can get a real-time window into the brain's health, allowing them to tailor medical interventions and rehabilitation plans specifically to each survivor's needs. For stroke survivors, having a biological marker that tracks ones progress and helps ensure that therapy is as effective as possible could be rather helpful... 🌟
Knowing how the brain is responding to treatment means we can be even more targeted with our intensive ARNI rehab, focusing our energy where it drives the most functional change. ✨
www.ar#ARNIstrokerehabt#strokerecoveryk#brainhealthr#MedicalInnovationI#Neuroscience2026cience2026
Hmmmmm doubt the NHS will invest...... I'm sorry but so may missed strokes even those with traditional symptoms, a huge deficit in spend per patient on stroke Vs lots of other conditions..... Why would they change now😐 I've lost faith in the medical profession largely 😔
The stepper is safe (to an extent), but you should think about familiarising yourself with steps again as soon as possible. Real steps are real life, and real risk.
Confidence is everything, and your grip will give you the confidence you need to hold your bodyweight should you not hit a step right, or your foot curl underneath you or to the side as you step up or down. So you need to ensure your good side’s hands and wrists are strong.
Find out more in The Successful Stroke Survivor book by Tom Balchin.
www.strokesolutions.co.uk/.../successful-stroke.../
#neuroplasticity #neurorehab #strokerecovery #strokerehab #strokesurvivorscan #strokerecoveryexercises #strokeexercise #neurorehabilitation #exerciseafterstroke
Many years of research suggests that the mobility and functional dependence of stroke survivors worsen over time and that accessing later rehabilitation becomes increasingly difficult for stroke survivors. This raises the big question: when should your ‘supported care pathway’ end? The ideal answer is ‘when I am better’.
The problem is that stroke survivors rarely simply ‘get better’ or ‘get back to normal’. Clinical rehabilitation therefore always has to be a compromise, due to time and resources allocated to professionals and patients. Just ask any hard-working physio or OT! And there are also some specific factors (Approach-specific factors, for example) involved in this compromise which will probably never be fully explained to your satisfaction, even if you were to ask.
Stroke survivors simply tend to know when therapy seems to have ended too soon. They can feel very neglected. And that's exactly why ARNI exists - to fill the gap.
www.arni.uk.com #neuroplasticity #neurorehab #strokerecovery #strokerehabilitation #Neuroplasticity #exerciseafterstroke #strokeexercise
If you stop exercising, then you risk hitting the stroke recovery plateau, or worse — regressing.
To keep your progress going, you have to keep moving.
www.arni.uk.com
#strokerecovery #neuroplasticity #neurorehab #ARNIstrokerehab #arnistrokecharity #ARNIstrokerehab
All at ARNI Stroke Rehab UK are sending thoughts of strength and hope today to a brave teenager from Banbury who is starting her recovery journey in 2026. Shakira Gorman unexpectedly suffered a rare spinal stroke on December 28, a life-changing event that has temporarily left her unable to talk. While the shock of such a rare diagnosis is immense, Shakira is already showing the resilient spirit that defines a true warrior, and her story reminds us that even when our voices are quieted for a moment, our inner strength speaks louder than ever 🕊️
For everyone navigating their own path to independence, Shakira’s journey highlights the specialised support available for those facing rare neurological challenges. Spinal strokes are unique in how they affect the body, but the principles of neuroplasticity and dedicated rehabilitation available (available for her anytime from ARNI) remain the same. We know from so many survivors in our facebook group that the early days are just the beginning of a long and successful comeback. 🌟
As Shakira begins her intensive rehabilitation, her story serves as a reminder to cherish every small victory and to lean on the incredible network of survivors who have walked this path before if she needs. We know that recovery after a stroke isn't a sprint; it's a marathon fueled by patience, love and the latest therapy and training expertise. We are all rooting for this talented young woman from Oxfordshire as she fights to reclaim her future, proving once again that the human spirit is far more powerful than any medical setback.
Keep going, Shakira, and to everyone else out there pushing through their rehab today: stay strong and keep believing in the power of your own recovery ✨
www.arni.uk.com
#ARNIStrokeRehab #ShakiraGorman #StrokeRecovery2026 #SpinalStroke #OxfordshireStrong #NeuroRehab
Are you currently in a wheelchair? Or, do you have just a few limitations from stroke?
Whoever you are, if you’re a stroke survivor, this online video set is suitable for you.
Rehabilitate your balance control, cope with foot drop, get stronger, reduce spasticity, recover the ability to grasp & release objects and become self-reliant rather than dependent on others.
These show you the best strategies from the best-selling manual The Successful Stroke Survivor.
Clever tips and ‘tricks of the trade’ that you need after stroke. Just click on the DVDs to see their contents.
Now you can learn all this too, in your home, with Dr Tom as your personal teacher.
7 DVDs of 45 to 60 minutes each, filmed in full HD 1080p clarity, this superb video programme will be your accompaniment to progressive rehabilitation.
www.strokesolutions.co.uk/.../dvds-and-anytime.../
#neuroplasticity #strokeexercise #strokerehab #strokesurvivorscan #strokerecovery #neurorehab #neurorehabilitation #exerciseafterstroke #strokerecoveryexercises
Thank you for the reminder x Will be watching again
How to start retraining your upper limb after stroke? Your starter programme consists both of stretches and tasks. You may or may not have been taught how to safely self-stretch but the idea is that more is better and safety is paramount. You have to stretch your upper limb (gently), knowing at the same time simply stretching won’t bring recovery. You have to be task-focused. So, when you do a stretch, you then do something challenging and specific functionally with the stretch.
To find out if there's an ARNI instructor near you who can help you call us on 0203 053 0111 or email support@arni.uk.com
www.arni.uk.com
#arnistrokecharity #stroke #strokesurvivors #neuroplasticity #strokearmrehab
Thank you. We've finally been referred for upper limb botox to help Harry with this. Still soldiering on. 💪💪💪
Colleagues of ARNI Stroke Rehab at both UCL and the University of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, have developed a groundbreaking ultrasound helmet designed to break apart dangerous brain clots without the need for any surgery or invasive scalpels!
By using focused ultrasound beams that pass safely through the skull, this device can target a blockage with pinpoint precision and vibrate it until it fragments into tiny pieces the body can clear naturally. This means the high-stakes 'golden hour' after a stroke could soon be managed with a portable, non-invasive tool that stops damage in its tracks before it even has the chance to cause long-term disability 🧠
Early clinical tests show that this helmet can restore vital blood flow dramatically faster than medication alone, all while avoiding the dangers of opening the skull or navigating sensitive neural tissue with catheters. The tech indicates that a stroke can be repaired externally, preserving the precious connections that allow us to move, speak and stay ourselves. This shift toward surgery-free clot removal is a massive leap forward in making sure the baseline for recovery is as high as possible for every survivor 🌟
The system has been successfully tested on human volunteers to demonstrate its ability to precisely target deep brain structures and modulate neural activity. While it shows promise for treating blood clots, the tech is also being explored for other conditions like Parkinson's disease, depression & Alzheimer's.
The most exciting part is the potential for this helmet to become a standard piece of equipment in ambulances and remote medical centers across the UK. Imagine a world where life-saving treatment begins the moment the paramedics arrive at your door, rather than waiting until you reach a specialist surgical hub. As this tech moves through its final large-scale trials, it serves as a powerful reminder that the brightest minds in science are working tirelessly to make stroke recovery faster, safer and more accessible for everyone. ✨
www.arni.uk.com
#ARNIStrokeRehab #UltrasoundHelmet #MedTech2026 #StrokeRecovery #BrainHealth
There's very little published on this application yet, because it's generated from a study created with a focus on helping with Parkinson's - see www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-09-09-new-ultrasound-helmet-enables-deep-brain-stimulation-people-without-..... - if you need further info, do ask me, and I'll ask my colleague Dr Ioana Grigoras who sometimes speaks at ARNI events, at from the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford (first author of the study).. Tom
Not a single piece of literature about this, just Facebook.
I’m 63 and had 3 strokes / blood clots on my brain last year I would love to get more information to recover fully
Question is how much does it cost us stroke survivors?
Yes please
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Yes please
Amazing
I hope it’s true. This would be amazing
Come to late for me
Good news
Wow this would be amazing !! 🙏🙏🙏
Hopi bon...pero aki ta haci hopi cos na cas prome cu e patient..cu no ta bon!!
Can I have a home unit... My last stroke almost took me out ..