The ARNI Trust
‘…there is little doubt that after the short therapeutic inpatient time window ends, and further work in the Units cannot be sustained, professional help for stroke survivors in the community must come from outside of the physiotherapy remit. This is why ARNI holds much promise as we move forward towards an unbroken care-to-fitness pathway for stroke survivors in the UK’. - Professor Michael Barnes, President of the World Federation of Neurorehabilitation, and supporter of the ARNI Trust
Action For Rehabilitation From Neurological Injury (ARNI) was formed in 2001 by Dr Tom Balchin, a stroke survivor. It is a national charity which carries out the important work of helping stroke survivors overcome the effects of stroke. In particular, ARNI gives stroke survivors the means to self-rehabilitate grow individual coping strategies and gain bodily action control. The Charity’s strategies are based on the strongest current clinical neurological evidence showing that neuroplastic change can be stimulated by intensive task-related practice.
Balchin started the Trust after discovering that there are few available sources of practical help to show Stroke survivors how to overcome their limitations and resume their usual daily activities. He found that outside of hospitals, there are few qualified people who can show stroke survivors how to train around their injuries. Furthermore, stroke survivors report that gyms can be daunting places to go to after a recent recovery from stroke and would therefore avoid places as such.
The Trust’s team is made up of volunteers, qualified specialist instructors and therapists who provide survivors with the ARNI functional ‘retraining’ strategies. These strategies work to allow survivors the ability to ‘retain’ themselves so that they may assimilate back into their daily life activities. This includes training to correct balance and posture, increase flexibility and stamina and increase self-esteem.
It was established in Dec 2008 that the ARNI Team has assisted in the rehabilitation of over 1,000 people who have had strokes of some varying degree. The system is also currently being taught, on demand, from (and sponsored by) the NHS Stroke Improvement services, to many hundreds of therapists and professional trainers in the 28 stroke Networks across the UK. This is part of the dedicated ARNI Exercise After Stroke course, accredited by Middlesex University. Any stroke survivor may apply to ARNI Central to look for stroke specific training from a nearby specialist.
Currently in its 20th year they have over 100 highly qualified independent therapists and trainers around the UK, trained via our Functional Rehabilitation & Exercise Training after Stroke Qualification.
Created 15th January 2013. Updated 2021
The ARNI Trust benefits from Attend membership, which includes comprehensive charity insurance cover. For more information, or to join, please click here.
