.6 TARGETS YOU NEED TO HAVE AS GOALS AFTER STROKE
Even if you have hired the help of a trainer or a therapist to get you started (advised), you must have input towards your own rehabilitation and the way you want to go. Knowledge is power.
My aim is to show you exactly how to achieve 6 things:
1. Correct balance, co-ordination and posture over time
2. Increase muscular, tendon and ligament strength and fitness over time
3. Decrease spasticity and increase specific functional movement return over time
4. Increase confidence and remove fear of the consequences of exercising
5. Become progressively more self-sufficient
6. Become productive in an occupation and be happy with life
Can you take up the challenge? These can all be achieved by you to a certain degree, however old you are, if you want them badly enough and are prepared to sacrifice some time and effort. Can a generic programme be created? For example, is there one ‘programme’ that will fit everyone? It would be much easier that way, right?
The simple answer is ‘no’. But there are many things that all stroke survivors must do, and many things that most will need to do. You will start with basic tasks that you need to master in order that you can work towards more complex tasks.
Everything you do will rewire your brain: by doing more, you will develop more motor control and gain strength. You will ‘get nothing by doing nothing’.
Please understand that the degree to which brain repair, neural rewiring and neurogenesis happens can be influenced very significantly long after the short therapeutic window after stroke may close.
So, I hope to emphasise to you with this post that the regain of functional movement with control, strength, flexibility, stability and essential physical coping strategies are highly individual, relying as they do on your own genetics, status of accompanying medical problems, attitude (drive, persistence, desire and motivation) and so very many other factors.
The longer you’re a stroke survivor, the more you’ll notice that you can ‘win’ or control (manage) many of these but others will have to be accepted. And, I have to tell you, that re-training efforts can never stop, throughout the rest of your life. Sounds like bad news?! Not so… I’ll show why, in a forthcoming post.
Long term stroke survivors reading this will be nodding to themselves. New stroke survivors will get to understand what I mean (just read my next posts. The good news? ‘Retraining’ can very soon phase into an enjoyable and social physical activity wherein you are actively rehabilitating. So encouragingly, it seems that ‘formal training’ is finite… but it must be done right so you can phase into a maintaining status quo in some areas and regularly improve in others (usually micro-improvements).
#arnistrokecharity #stroke #strokesurvivors #neuroplasticity #strokerehabilitation #neurorehabilitation #strokerehab #neurorehab #strokesurvivorscan
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Do you know the best way to improve your balance? Practicing balance exercises while standing, along with exercises for lower extremity muscles performed while standing against body weight resistance, is the optimal way to improve balance as well as flexibility, strength and endurance, and fitness. Exercises can include standing up and sitting down, step-ups, heels raises, marching, stair walking, semi-squats, and reaching to the floor sideways and forward to pick up an object. These exercises should be performed with increasing numbers of repetitions and without reliance on the upper limbs for support and balance. Exercises can be made more challenging by increasing the height of steps and chairs and by increasing and varying speed.
#arnistrokecharity #stroke #strokesurvivors #neuroplasticity #strokebalance
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Almost all of our day-to-day activities involve balance in some way, and it can be debilitating, embarrassing, and frustrating when someone’s balance is impaired after a stroke. Furthermore, imbalance can lead to falls and, therefore, other accidents and injuries.
Our balance — or imbalance — involves different parts of our bodies to work; eyes, ears, and sensory nerves in muscles and joints all play a role. Each part needs to work together to achieve maximum balance.
According to the data on stroke recovery timelines, many stroke survivors improve their balance after about 6 months with consistent and rigorous training.
What did you do to improve your balance? Please write below and tell us, to pass on tips to others!
#arnistrokecharity #stroke #strokesurvivors #neuroplasticity #strokebalance
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Could you confidently assess if you or a loved one is at risk of a TIA?
People with cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and smoking, are well known to be at high risk for stroke and TIA. Other conditions that increase risk of a TIA include peripheral artery disease, atrial fibrillation, obstructive sleep apnea and coronary artery disease.
In addition, a person who has had a prior stroke is at high risk for TIA. Stroke symptoms that disappear in under an hour, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), need emergency assessment to help prevent a full-blown stroke, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published last week in the Association's journal Stroke. The statement offers a standardized approach to evaluating people with suspected TIA, with guidance specifically for hospitals in rural areas that may not have access to advanced imaging or an on-site neurologist.
The statement also includes guidance to help health care professionals tell the difference between a TIA and a "TIA mimic" -- a condition that shares some signs with TIA but is due to other medical conditions such as low blood sugar, a seizure or a migraine. Symptoms of a TIA mimic tend to spread to other parts of the body and build in intensity over time.
#arnistrokecharity #stroke #strokesurvivors #neuroplasticity #neuroplasticity #neurorehabilitation #strokesurvivorscan #strokeexercise #strokesurvivor
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After being diagnosed with epilepsy last year, Ashleigh prepared her family for in the event of an emergency. She set up educational, role play games with Arthur, teaching him how to call and tell emergency services who he is and where he lives.
She also set up hone numbers so Arthur could not only ring 999 if needed but also so he could quickly call his Dad to update him of any urgent situation.
"It worked! When he found his mum collapsed on the floor at home he was able to call 999 and listened to instructions on the phone from the 999-call handler."
Well done Arthur!!
www.arni.uk.com
#strokerehabilitation #neurorehab #strokesurvivorscan #neuroplasticity #strokesurvivors #neurorehabilitation #strokeexercise #strokerehab
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Everything you do towards your own rehabilitation builds up for you a body of knowledge and change which positively affects your own progress. With the right amount of rehab, a person's speech, cognitive, motor and sensory skills can steadily be recovered. Although just 10% of people fully recover from a stroke, 25% have only minor impairments and 40% have moderate impairments that are manageable with some special care. And there's no reason to be one of those people who decline after stroke. Use ARNI Stroke Rehab & Recovery for ideas and go for it!!
www.arni.uk.com
#arnistrokecharity #strokesurvivors #neuroplasticity #neurorehabilitation #strokesurvivorscan #strokerehab #neurorehab #strokeexercise
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Following on from Marie Marie's comment below about approaches to upper limb spasticity after stroke, the evidence shows that standard-of-care treatments such as botulinum toxin injections can temporarily relieve muscle stiffness and pain associated with spasticity, but often at the expense of increased muscle weakness.
Who has tried Botox as an intervention/adjunct to retraining? Did it work for you?
I found interesting data showing recent preclinical investigations of a non-invasive treatment that pairs trans-spinal direct current stimulation and peripheral nerve direct current stimulation (tsDCS+pDCS) provided promising data for a novel approach based on bioelectronic medicine for the treatment of patients with post-stroke spasticity.
In a small study of 26 patients, those treated with active tsDCS+pDCS demonstrated significant reductions in both Modified Tardieu Scale scores (summed across the upper limb, P < 0.05), and in objective torque measures (Nm) of the spastic catch response at the wrist flexor (P < 0.05), compared to the sham condition. Also, motor function improved significantly (measured by the Fugl-Meyer and Wolf Motor Function Test; P < 0.05 for both tests) after active treatment.
#arnistrokecharity #stroke #strokesurvivors #neuroplasticity #neuroplasticity #neurorehabilitation #strokesurvivorscan #strokeexercise
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What is post-stroke fatigue anyway? Characteristics may include: overwhelming tiredness and lack of energy to perform daily activities; abnormal need for naps, rest, or extended sleep; more easily tired by daily activities than pre-stroke; unpredictable feelings of fatigue without apparent reason. It's also often under-recognised; so healthcare professionals such as ARNI Stroke Rehab & Recovery instructors should anticipate the possibility of post-stroke fatigue and prepare people who have experienced a stroke and families to mitigate fatigue through assessment, education, and interventions throughout the stroke-recovery continuum [Evidence Level B].
Tom notes: Post-stroke fatigue does not appear to be correlated to the severity of stroke. People who experience very mild stroke may still experience post-stroke fatigue.
#arnistrokecharity #stroke #strokesurvivors #neuroplasticity #strokefatigue
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Whatever your status, whoever you are, to mark 20 years of ARNI, we would like to offer you today the Successful Stroke Survivor DVDs (Full set) (all 45-60 mins) with a massive £50 off! 
He will show you how to recover balance, how to walk and turn without problem, how to cope with drop foot, how to reach, grasp and release well again, how to become stronger and robust.. and how to tackle all sorts of activities of daily life that you hadn’t dreamed possible after stroke.
You can do it: Dr Tom will show you how, and in the Bonus DVD, will also show you a full training session with a stroke survivor so you can see how everything works.
Thomas Eldred (Verified Purchase) – (USA)
Elvira Oravecz Péter (Verified Purchase) – (Hungary)
Petr Pokorny (Verified Purchase) –
All DVDs are very important to us for my husband, every move is very precious every minute, thanks for the help, we work every day, we learn. We want good health and good luck Enikő and Ernő
Tim Webster (Verified Purchase) –
Full of practical tips, drills and ideas, “THE SUCCESSFUL STROKE SURVIVOR” videos are an excellent resource for stroke survivors.
Suzie (Verified Purchase) –
I definitely recommend these dvds, beautifully presented and easy to follow and very inspirational. I use them now in addition to my private physio to help in my recovery, only wish they were available earlier. Lots of training strategies and exercises developed by Tom, a true expert and stroke survivor. Don’t hesitate buy the complete set.
I am an ARNI instructor in training and I am finding these videos essential in helping me become a knowledgeable, effective and inspired trainer. I purchased the complete set, along with Dr Balchin’s Stroke Survivor book and I refer to them on a daily basis and I know they will continue to be an indispensable tool in my development. Each technique is clearly explained and demonstrated by Tom and the great thing is that you can pause at any point to try it yourself, or listen back to something. If you are a carer, friend or family member, wanting to help a loved one who has had a stroke then these DVDs are a must.
As a former Royal Marine, these exercises have been paramount in improving the functional use of both my arm and hand. I would wholly recommend ‘DVD Volume 5’ to anyone who wishes to improve their condition, following a stroke.
Russ Kennedy (Verified Purchase) –
It’s my pleasure to recommend the Stroke Solutions DVD. I purchased the book, The Successful Stroke Survivor, about five years ago but found that I needed to be shown how to do certain exercises. Since I have obtained the affordable and worthwhile DVD, I continually refer to it. I wish that you had been able to make it available sooner. Many thanks. Russ Kennedy PhD, MBA, MPH
Justin Smallwood (Verified Purchase) –
Peter Corfield (Verified Purchase) –
I had an AVM stroke 1st June 2010.We were in France. My wife found me on the floor having returned from an art experience there was no way of telling how long I had been there. Maybe 4/5 hours or longer a helicopter was called from Dijon I was flown to a hospital in a coma. Missed out on the view. They did an emergency craniotomy to repair the vein that had burst .I was put in an induced coma for about 2 and a half weeks. When I awoke I was hemiplegic left side. Enough about me. These DVDs are so Amazing I can’t tell you how good they are in words try them yourself. I may even do some of the exercises as my you tube stroke blog when I have enough time in the day . You may have seen me armchair gardening filling and emptying the dishwasher fetching the wood. Everyday life can be achieved after stroke and I owe it all to Dr. Tom Balchin and Arni Institute. Buy the DVDs they are Awesome.
Nick Cole (Verified Purchase) –
Finally, all his knowledge is distilled into a set of DVDs. They’re pure gold dust, refined over many years experience working with stroke survivors of all ages. I’m working through the exercises in the DVDs and they still form the basis of my twice-weekly physiotherapy and self-rehab programme.
Louis Rowson (Verified Purchase) –
Found the DVDs very inspirational, I have had a lot of help from the wonderful therapists in North Devon, but need now to move on and I believe Tom’s DVDs will help me. My initial prognosis left me wheelchair bound, but with determination and support I can now walk with support, my left hand is still of very little use but I have been given fresh motivation by the DVDs.
These DVDs are beautifully and compassionately presented by Dr Tom Balchin and his team! Every move, exercise, strategy is clearly described and demonstrated, with many repetitions of the complexities of some of the coping strategies and functional training techniques and drills. I recommend these to every stroke survivor and their families, and carers. As an adjunct to ‘The Successful Stroke Survivor’ the DVDs give strong visual and aural cues to the descriptions in the book. This actually makes the learning of, and thus the effective implementation of the strategies, much more accessible.
Gary Sacheck (Verified Purchase) –
I am a stroke survivor and agree with the statement that, “knowledge is power” and this video plus all those that accompany this in Tom’s collection deliver that specific knowledge that a stroke survivor needs. This video like all in the collection inspire and provide the variety and “make it fun & interesting” style in your exercises to help you keep your rehab progressing.
Owen Thomas (Verified Purchase) –
Very informative and helpful: clear and concise instructions with great attention to detail on technique! Thank you!