Physiotherapy is a health care profession which focuses on the use of exercise, movement and manual therapy to treat an extensive range of physical problems which can be caused by illness, accident or ageing. Neurological Physiotherapy is a branch of physiotherapy which focuses on the treatment of individuals who suffer from neurological disorders. A neurological disorder is a disease which affects the functioning of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Examples of neurological disorders include stroke, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.
Neurological conditions can have a devastating, life changing effect upon the lives of their sufferers, as well as the lives of the sufferer’s family and friends. Individuals whom suffer from a neurological disorder often have difficulties carrying out tasks which everyone normally takes for granted in everyday life. Therefore the main focus of neurological physiotherapy is to provide interventions which assist an individual to maintain and regain the maximum movement and functional independence as possible.
Neurological physiotherapists use a number of methods to help an individual with a neurological condition to improve their quality of life and realise their potential through a range of treatment approaches such as the stretching and strengthening of muscles, the management of muscle tone, balance re-education, task practice, gait re-education and postural exercise. The same neurological disorder can affect different people in different ways, therefore in neurological physiotherapy treatment plans and goals are specific to the affected individuals needs and current level of ability.
It is very common for a neurological disorder to affect more than one aspect of bodily function, such as an individual’s perception, cognitive ability and behaviour. Therefore the physiotherapist need to be aware of issues other than those affecting mobility as all of them can have an impact upon the safety and performance of the affected individual when they are moving around their environment and carrying out activities of daily living. Neurological physiotherapists usually work in close partnership with the affected individual and their family as well as other health professionals including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, medical and nursing staff.
Private neurological physiotherapy can be carried out simultaneously to the physiotherapy you receive from the NHS or, private neurological physiotherapy can be continued after you have been discharged from you NHS neurological physiotherapy services. It is important that physiotherapy is carried out until you reach your full functional potential.
Private physiotherapists can also provide maintenance neurological physiotherapy treatment for individuals with progressive diseases. Please feel free to complete the online Find a Neurological Physiotherapist form to allow us to recommend a specialist neurological physiotherapist in your area.