MyArm2026-01-20T11:42:37+00:00

Welcome to the MyArm Project

What is MyArm?

MyArm is an easy-to-use digital platform, created by stroke survivors, their carers, and healthcare professionals to support arm and upper body recovery after stroke. It delivers mental practice, which is when you think about moving, but don’t physically move, and can help boost recovery even when physical movement is limited. This approach is supported by research and recommended in stroke care guidelines. 1–3

MyArm is not a replacement for physiotherapy or occupational therapy but is designed to work alongside them to support your arm’s recovery.

What is mental practice?

Mental practice (also known as motor imagery or mental imagery) involves imagining undertaking a task or activity. To do mental practice, you listen to detailed instructions that guide you to imagine moving your arm to undertake an everyday task. You only imagine moving – you don’t physically move at all – and so it is suitable for anyone who has problems moving their arm after stroke.

Mental practice is often used by sports people as part of their training, and musicians as they perfect a performance.

MyArm guides you do mental practice by providing instructions that guides you imagine moving your arm to complete specific activities.

How does it work?

We know that imagining movement uses many of the areas of the brain that are needed to produce physical movement. In this way, mental practice provides a way of training the brain and enables people to work on their rehabilitation even if they can’t move their arm. If you want to read about some of the research that have studied mental practice for the arm after stroke please visit here:

Key Features

MyArm includes 20 mental practice activities, all designed to support arm recovery as part of your stroke rehabilitation. Each practice takes around 5 minutes, so doing 20 minutes a day is realistic—and could really help with your recovery.

You can repeat the same practice each time or try different ones. For the best results, try to match what you’re doing in mental practice with the physical activities you’re working on in therapy.

MyArm is available in four languages: English, Polish, Punjabi, and Urdu. You can choose your language when you log in.

MyArm also tracks how often you use it and lets you rate how easy each practice felt—so you can see your progress over time and stay motivated.

How do I use it?

MyArm includes 20 everyday activities to choose from. Just pick one you’d like to practice, sit back, relax, and follow the step-by-step instructions. These guide you through imagining yourself doing the task. The scripts are read at a leisurely pace, to give you time to relax and concentrate on imagining the movements.

Your therapist can help you choose the right activities to listen to for you. Ideally these will be ones that you cannot currently manage. The best activities are likely to be those that you are also practicing in your therapy sessions. Research suggests that practising the same activity in both mental practice and real-life movement might lead to better results.

How often do I need to do it?

Like most things, you need to practice frequently to get the most benefit from mental practice. Recovery after stroke is variable and often takes time. At first, you might not see any benefits but it is worth persevering for six weeks if you can.

We suggest practicing 20 minutes a day, at least five days a week, because it’s long enough to give your brain time to focus and learn, but short enough to stay manageable and fit into your day. Research doesn’t tell us exactly how much to do, but doing mental practice regularly, in short sessions like this, seems to help people make progress with arm recovery after stroke.

Is it hard?

We know that many people may find it difficult to do mental practice at first, but, like most things, it is likely to get easier with practice. If you find it hard, it is worth persevering as it may take a few times before you feel like you can concentrate and imagine the movements. We do know that some people with certain types of stroke and problems understanding language after stroke might not be able to do mental practice – your therapist can advise you if it is the right choice for you.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your mental practice:

Pick a time to practice that works for you

This is when you have time to concentrate and are not too tired.

Find a quiet space

Somewhere you won’t be disturbed.

Get comfortable

Sit or lie in a relaxed position.

Breath slowly throughout the practice and try to relax

Close your eyes

This can help you focus better.

Listen carefully

Concentrate on the instructions as they guide you through the activity.

Don’t worry if you get distracted

If this happens, just bring focus back to the instructions when you can

Don’t worry if you are interrupted

You can pause the recording and then carry on later or start again.

Sometimes imagining activities that you cant yet do may be upsetting, if this happens, stop using MyArm until you feel ready and let your therapist, doctor or someone else know.

Troubleshooting

I want to change the name or other settings MyArm2025-12-02T15:52:26+00:00

Tap on

This will open up the option to change your name

I cannot find the exercise I want2025-11-30T19:24:05+00:00

Go to All 20 exercises and scroll up and down until you find the exercise you want

The tablet won’t turn on2025-11-30T19:23:29+00:00

Try charging the tablet and then try again

I can’t hear the recordings2025-12-02T12:21:08+00:00

  1. Check the volume is high enough. The volume button is the large button on the edge of the tablet. If you press at the top of the button it will raise the volume.
  2. If you are using headphones, check that the headphones are firmly inserted into the tablet.

MyArm has been designed from the beginning with, and by, stroke survivors, (including those with communication problems and visual difficulties) and those that care for them, and experienced physio and occupational therapists. MyArm is produced by physio and occupational therapist researchers and the Innovation Lab at the University of Lancashire as part of a research fellowship funded by UK Research and Innovation.

We would like to thank all the people who helped us design MyArm –the stroke survivors, SpeakEasy Aphasia and Stroke Association groups, and all the UK physiotherapists and occupational therapists who provided such valuable feedback. We are also grateful to the staff and students of the University of Lancashire’s Acting and Languages departments for helping us with the voiceovers and translations.

About the MyArm team

Privacy & Data Security

We take the security and confidentiality of your information seriously. MyArm only asks you what language you would like to listen in and what you would like to be called – you don’t have to use your name, you could choose a nick name or something else. We only collect information about how long MyArm is used for and any feedback you have provided when using it. All information is stored securely using encrypted databases and secure transmission protocols to prevent unauthorized access.

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