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tom balchin stroke rehabilitation recovery paralysis martial arts
Added: (Sat Jul 02 2005)
tom balchin Stroke tom balchin stroke rehabilitation tom balchin stroke survivor tom balchin stroke recovery tom balchin paralysis tom balchin martial arts tom balchin arni
Unbelievably, 30,000 people have a stroke in the UK each year! But the means of effective rehabilitation is often unavailable from National Health Service sources, sometimes after a period of only 4 months. Once stroke survivors are on their feet again, they are often fiercely determined to conquer the temporary state of partial paralysis. But many have to continue with their lives without progression because of the serious lack of available real-life strategies that they can access and make their own. This keeps them firmly inside their comfort zones and prevents them making progress, particularly if extra problems persist such as epilepsy or aphasia.
There is a group in Isleworth who can help. The ARNI group, (Action for Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury) has been running for the past three years in the South East with some amazing successes. It was a response to a demand from the community for after-stroke assistance for people with partial paralysis, who are determined to get back more actual movement in affected limbs. They now have 5 centres around Greater London and the South East.
One of its centres is now at the LA Fitness in Isleworth, where the manger has facilitated the training needs of stroke survivors well.
Its founders bring a wealth of experience to the area of stroke rehabilitation. Dave, 55 (6th Dan) is the founder of the international Kyudokai martial arts association. Dr Tom Balchin, 29, works at Brunel university, and is a stroke survivor himself. He happily passes on a unique knowledge of strength training techniques that he has adapted especially for stroke rehabilitation. This combination of trainer skills is what makes ARNI so unique. People come from all over the UK to their centres every week, some travelling more than 7 hours per day.
Tom, who now operates from the Isleworth LA Fitness told us; “...our innovative training methods are based around applications of specific physical movements derived for stroke survivors from our disciplines. The emphasis is always on practical movement and coping strategies, from the specific to the whole. We produce ‘meta-change’; change that builds upon itself constantly.”
Their second year of training has just finished. Over this period, they have assisted 16 people of various ages, gender and initial capability. People typically come to them with problems moving their hands and feet, requiring creative approaches that traditional physiotherapy does not offer. Independent assessment data indicates that ARNIs concept of rehabilitation strategies is very promising. Neurological centres and therepeutic units are expressing interest in taking the ARNI trainer course. Clients are all measured in terms of progression in a range of actual isolated movements, whole body movements, as well as surety and coping facilities. Dramatic progression is typically found in every area.
Dave said that “...our approach is so effective, yet we are amazed, because as far as we know, there is no-one else in the UK applying these kinds of techniques to stroke rehabilitation.”
ARNI Central is looking for people in the Richmond area to take advantage of this unique chance to be trained by a stroke survivor. They consider anyone in the age range of 16 to 65, who is determined to work hard at their own rehab, but place special emphasis on young people. Find out more about ARNI by logging on to arni.uk.com, calling Tom on 07712 211378 or by writing to ARNI, PO. Box 68, Lingfield, Surrey, RH7 6QQ.
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