Stroke survivor Dr Tom Director of ARNI Charity UK recovering his functional grip strength using the principle of timed carry of heavy, awkward objects. To put in rehab terms, the liquid in the barrel sloshes from one end to another during each step. This was extremely HARD to complete - places the fingers on the barrel tines with a climber's grip and forces the person to hang on throughout
Is this something you'v#strokesurvivorscanrvivorscan
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“If we put exercise into a drug, it would be one of the most effective medications to prevent vascular disease and treat patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases including stroke.” Yep. This statement is reinforced by the finding that exercise interventions are significantly more effective than drugs in both rehabilitation and reducing the odds of mortality among stroke survivors.
Chronic inactivity related to stroke basically has a whole load of physiological consequences that result in cardiovascular deconditioning, increased cardiovascular risk and increased mortality and morbidity risk.
The majority of survivors are cardiovascularly unfit. It has been found that due to the effects of stroke, you can even be rendered half as cardiovascularly fit compared to someone who has not had a stroke.
This can be worsened by a pre-existing cardiovascular condition, such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, or pulmonary and metabolic diseases. This is bad news. The good news is that evidence now also suggests that your exercise train-ability may be comparable, in many ways, to that of your age-matched healthy counterparts.
Despite the fact that the energy expenditure required for you to perform walking varies with the degree of weakness, spasticity, training, and AFO usage.. and is elevated by one and a half to two times that of non-stroke subjects…you can increase your cardiovascular fitness by a magnitude that is similar to that of healthy adults who engage in endurance training programmes. Improving aerobic fitness may allow you to carry out everyday activities with less effort and for longer periods.
You’ve got to be active, right? Another crucial factor: there is growing evidence that exercise promotes brain neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity mediates cognition and the relearning of motor skills and other skills after stroke. Brains learn what they do. Remember, the brain loves repetition. Cardiovascular exercise is repetition.
For such adaptation to happen optimally, you must be prepared to do focused work with whatever movement you possess (with some caveats, to be explained shortly), even if you believe you have none at all. Over and over again, with as much attention to detail as you can.
The take-home from this is that I want you now to think of yourself as a CREATIVE stroke survivor. Take walking. Repetitions are required but ALSO you need to set goals and targets (actually, like me, you’ll find these are fast-moving targets): to get away from supports like wheelchairs, frames and sticks as soon as possible, to go further, to go for set distances, to feel less tired each time, to ramp up the quality of your walking by focusing on how you walk, to walk over different surfaces, to walk with an AFO and without, to tackle stairs, etc. etc.
Time to make a move! Get professional help if you need or ‘go-it-alone’. If you are setting up to ‘retrain’ by yourself, when attempting walking practice, dependent on your presentation, at least collar a young and strong family member or friend to help you. No-one will mind, especially when they see you making a darned good effort. The world is yours.
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#strokerecovery #ARNIstrokerehab #strokerehab #strokesurvivorscan #neurorehab #strokeexercise #neuroplasticity #strokerehabilitation
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The best thing you can do is to try to use your hand religiously for as many things as you can reasonably do every day without going insane.
If you need help to get going give us a call 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.
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Have you ever heard the term ‘cryptogenic stroke’? 🤔 A cryptogenic stroke is a bit of a mystery: 1 in 3 ischemic strokes are this type where, even after extensive testing, doctors can't find a definitive cause.
‘Cryptogenic’ comes from Greek and means ‘of hidden origin’. It can be frustrating for both patients and doctors when the cause isn't clear. Even with a hidden cause, it's just as serious as any other stroke. So why can't doctors find the cause?
It might be because of a subtle issue that's hard to detect such as a hidden heart issue like a patent foramen ovale (PFO), an irregular heartbeat such as atrial fibrillation (Afib), that only happens sometimes and isn't picked up on a short-term monitor or a small blood clot from a large artery that isn't severe enough to be a clear cause or a blood clotting disorder that makes your blood more prone to clotting.
If you or a loved one has had a cryptogenic stroke, working closely with your ARNI trainer is key. The goal is to monitor your health and manage risk factors to prevent another stroke.
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#ARNIstrokerehab #StrokeSurvivor #CryptogenicStroke #StrokeAwareness #HiddenCause #StrokeRecovery #KnowTheSigns #HealthEducation #MedicalMystery #BrainHealth 🧠💖
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Here's a great review of Had a stroke? What now? book by Tom Balchin
This is a really great book for stroke survivors, their families, and people working in the field of stroke care. It provides very concise and accessible information about stroke and is written with positivity and optimism that should motivate anyone wishing to improve their function. It includes lots of practical strategies and exercises as well as very current information about the latest developments in the field of stroke recovery. I am currently training to help stroke survivors and I can highly recommend it!
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Breaking news from the world of stroke recovery! 🧠🔬 Researchers at the University of Zurich have achieved a major breakthrough in a new study.
In their landmark work, they have successfully used stem cell transplantation to reverse stroke damage in mice, showing incredible results that could one day transform recovery for humans.
The transplanted stem cells not only grew into new neurons and blood vessels but also reduced inflammation and helped rebuild the blood-brain barrier. Most excitingly, the treated mice regained motor functions they had lost, proving that meaningful recovery and brain regeneration are possible.
While this research is still in its early stages and a step away from human trials for stroke, it offers a huge glimmer of hope for the future of regenerative medicine. This may be one of those landmark moments in science; ARNI Stroke Rehab UK will be watching closely as this work progresses! 🙏💖
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#ARNIstrokerehab #Rehabilitation #strokerecovery #stemcelltherapy #neuroscience #MedicalBreakthrough #HopeAfterStroke #uzh #zurich
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You know that your path to recovery after a stroke is about your resilience, knowledge built-up and the experimenting with new interventions & augments. A new wearable device called Neubond from Imperial College is joining the journey to help make progress possible. 🚀 Unlike FES (open-loop), it’s a closed-loop system built on a technology called Volition-Induced Paired Associative Stimulation (VIPAS).
The lightweight, comfortable bracelet is equipped with tiny sensors that can detect the very subtle electrical signals your brain sends when you try to move your affected limb, even if you can't see or feel the movement yet. At the precise moment your brain is sending that command, Neubond delivers a gentle electrical stimulation to the corresponding muscle. This reinforces the neural pathway; the connection between your brain's command and your muscle's action.
By repeatedly pairing your intention to move with the actual movement, the device essentially helps to rewire your brain, promoting neuroplasticity and strengthening that vital brain-to-muscle connection over time.
For ARNI Stroke Rehab survivors who want to try it, please be aware that the Neubond wearable is still in the testing and dev phase and isn’t currently available for purchase. But their website holds a waiting list for early access to pilot and beta testing which you can join if you are interested in potentially participating in future trials ;)
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#ARNIstrokerehab #StrokeSurvivor #Rehabilitation #Neuroplasticity #Neubond #Neuroplasticity #StrokeSurvivor #HopeAfterStroke #WearableTech #Empowerment
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If you're using a stepper try going up with both your good foot and our affected foot because ultimately you are practicing to manage a flight of steps. This will enable you to practice lifting your affected leg, extending and placing your affected foot , then using the toes on your good side to spring onto the step. To get off the stepper backwards use your good foot first.
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If you like this post then please share it with others. Each time that you share a post, you can directly help other people – as who knows which people in the world might find us and gain, either directly from the charity or simply by being able to copy an ‘innovative and useful’ move/trick of the trade that might help them manage after stroke.
Every time you share, you could directly help someone – as knowledge is power ;)
#neurorehab #strokerecovery #neuroplasticity #strokerehabilitation #strokeexercise #ARNIstrokerehab #stairsafterstroke
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Why do core exercises? Core exercises stabilise the trunk. Having a stable “base” is extremely important for the arms and the legs to move efficiently.
To find out if there's an ARNI instructor near you who can help you with your recovery call us on 0203 053 0111 or email support@arni.uk.com
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#neuroplasticity #strokerecovery #strokerehab #strokeexercise #ARNIstrokerehab #neurorehab #strokerehabilitation
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