A South Norwood artist was inspired by his wife’s devastating stroke to invent a device that helps other sufferers regain movement.

Joel Arnstein’s “muzmo” is an electronic device that helps stroke victims repeat exercises to aid paralysed muscles.

The 58-year-old was nominated for a community champion award for his invention, which could help stroke victims all over the world.

His wife Laura suffered a devastating stroke when she was stationed in Papua New Guinea working for the World Health Organisation.

The stroke happened three days before she was due to fly home, and she had to be flown to Townsville Hospital in Queensland, Australia.

Mr Arnstein said: “For months Laura was in the gym from 8.30am to 4.30pm every weekday, and had exercises to do at the weekends.

“The physiotherapists were superb, but there were difficulties in getting patients to achieve certain movements.

“One of these movements involves lifting an affected foot and turning it out – a movement essential for normal walking.”

Once he saw the problem Mr Arnstein came up with the idea of creating an electrical device that would let patients know they were doing the correct movement and repeat it hundreds of times.

Ms Arnstein said: “The muzmo device my husband developed helped enormously with one of the most difficult movements for walking I had to re-establish.

“When your muscles won’t work, and you have to concentrate, to will them to work anything that helps is a blessing.”

After several prototypes Mr Arnstein developed one his wife could use, and it has given her the movement needed to return to work, even though she has not regained feeling.

Muzmo impressed the physiotherapist at James Cook University so much the department has launched clinical trials.

Mr Arnstein now has a provisional patent on the invention and hopes it will come to the attention of a manufacturer.