“Do not sit still; start moving now. In the beginning, you may not go in the direction you want, but as long as you are moving, you are creating alternatives and possibilities.”
― Rodolfo Costa
If you need some help to get started then call us on 0203 053 0111 or email support@arni.uk.com to find out if there's a trainer near you who can help.
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The Mirror Box is a tool that is designed to make neuroplasticity work for you via intense mental stimulation. Designed originally for those suffering from phantom limb pain, it has subsequently been found that imagining movement of arms and legs that have been weakened from stroke can trigger a group of ‘mirror neurons’, which can assist functional recovery of affected limbs. The idea is that movement of the more-affected limb can be stimulated via visual cues originating from the opposite side of the body. This portable folding Mirror Box is the best one I have seen because it can collapse to the width of a standard A4 folder, and expand to allow my Burmese cat to hide inside! You simply place your affected hand in it and practice conducting symmetrical movements, The brain sees the more affected limb as normal: the idea is that you are ‘tricking’ it into thinking the you are moving your affected hand in the same way as your good hand. Interestingly, one trial showed that looking at the mirror image of your good hand increased the excitability of neurons in the primary motor cortex significantly more than looking at your affected hand directly with no mirror. There does not, however seem to be any available evidence that it helps spasticity. There is moderate evidence from one recent trial41 showing that in the sub-acute period post-stroke, hand functioning improved more after mirror therapy in addition to a retraining programme compared with a control treatment. Basically, it’s something to try alongside your work with this approach if you need.
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Aside from helping the brain heal, deep sleep also offers other, fantastic benefits to stroke survivors.
For example, REM sleep – the deep sleep that occurs at intervals throughout the night – helps your brain process motor information. When your brain achieves REM sleep, there are spikes of neural activities that occur, known as sleep spikes. During these neural spikes, the brain transfers short-term memories about muscle movement to the temporal lobe where they become long-term memories.
Therefore, quality sleep can actually help stroke survivors regain proper muscle movement and strength. Since most stroke patients struggle with mobility problems, this is an incentive for stroke patients to focus on getting enough sleep.
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Interesting. Since I had my first stroke in 2021, I’ve no recollection of dreaming. I sleep flat out throughout the night. I wonder if there’s someone out there who can relate to my experience?
I struggle with sleeping now too, shoulder pain, but now also balance issues so both sides are affected in different ways😞
I can honestly say I can't remember 1 decent bights sleep in the 9 years since my stroke . No wonder my brain doesn't heal
Stroke Survivor Paul Giddings with Michelle Welsh - who is training as a student learning stroke rehab with Dr Tom. Paul himself came into contact with ARNI when he met Tom as a patient in the acute ward at Princess Royal Hospital during Covid, when Tom came in most days to head up the training part of the ASTAR trial (Principal Investigator was Dr Khalid Ali).
The ASTAR study examined the efficacy of using ARNI task-boards and upper limb techniques in acute hospitals. Upon discharge, Paul immediately signed up to ARNI and trained first with ARNI's Jo Morrison and then ARNI Senior Instructor & former Princess Royal Technical Instructor, Pat Hoad. He continues to train with Pat, who was also with us on Sunday!
How Does a Stroke Affect the Muscular System?
The brain controls both involuntary and voluntary muscular activity by sending neural messages to the muscles. These messages primarily originate in the motor cortex, which is found in the frontal lobe of the brain.
The motor cortex transmits these signals to the spinal cord, where they can reach the motor neurons. When these neurons fire, the impulse travels to the specific muscle, telling the muscle to contract or relax.
When a stroke occurs, this complex process can be disrupted, which can result in changes in muscle function. Depending on the severity and location of the stroke, this can often lead to changes in muscle tone and function.
Call us on 0203 053 0111, or email support@arni.uk.com to find out if there's an instructor near you who can help you with your recovery.
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Regaining mobility after a stroke works differently for everyone based on your unique conditions, such as whether you lost partial movement or struggle with post-stroke paralysis. Fortunately, ARNI rehabilitation methods can be adapted to all ability levels.
Paula Cassinelli, one of our ARNI Instructors asks you: 'do you find that experimenting and being creative with ARNI strategies/techniques makes them better for you? Can you share a specific example or two please?' Do tell us...
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My ARNI instructor Imtiaz Khan is very good at adapting exercises so that I can do them in my chair. Such as seated marching.
Exercise: Turning 90 degrees with eas: It does exactly what it says on the tin. It is one of the very best ways to effortlessly change direction without becoming compromised and falling over your bad foot.
Find out more about this exercise in The Successful Stroke Survivor book by Tom Balchin.
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Core exercises are essential for improving balance and stability throughout the body. They enable us to not only stay balanced while we sit or stand, but also to maintain balance while walking.
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Try fixing your eye upon a point on the far wall, then checking the ground in front of you with your peripheral vision and a quick head-dip when needed to reassure yourself that it really does not present any hazardous pitfalls. This technique really works. Don’t look too high up, however, when the chin is too high, the body will follow and lean back.
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Dr Tom and one of ARNI's best supporters, Alan Taylor, who came along as Special Guest to training day in the weekend. Tom has known Alan since visiting the Woking Strokeability days (run by Issie) yonks ago..
