At Neurological Physiotherapy our highly specialist therapists will provide a thorough and holistic assessment and, with you, formulate person-centred and achievable goals. To ensure that improvements are maintained between sessions we can provide an individualised home exercise plan which you are able to complete independently or can be safely carried out by a family member or carer. This may include exercises to strengthen and condition, improve coordination, stretch, and/or sensory programmes and functional tasks activities. Improvements will be monitored and demonstrated with the use of outcome measures.
Neurological Physiotherapy recognise the complexity of the issues that you may be experiencing and understand that there may be a need for multi-disciplinary involvement in some symptom management. We have well established links with other health professionals and can you refer you into other services, both statutory or privately where necessary e.g. Orthotics and splinting, Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) for foot drop and upper limb weakness, wheelchair services, equipment to support you at home, local gym schemes and local exercise classes.
It does not matter whether you are newly diagnosed with a condition or whether you have lived with it for many years, physiotherapy can help you at any stage of your health journey for short or long term goals. At Neurological Physiotherapy we will look to optimise your physical potential and support you every step of the way, to keep you as active as possible. We can work with you in whatever environment you feel most comfortable in or where it is most appropriate for achieving your goals.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the sheath surrounding nerves. Nerves from the brain and spinal cord send messages and signals around the body. When these signals are disrupted it can cause difficulties in muscle control and muscle activation, balance and coordination, mobility, muscle spasm/spasticity and activities of daily living/functioning.
Over 130,000 people live with MS in the UK. It is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The disease path and trajectory is different for each person and hard to predict.
MS can be a deteriorating condition but our therapists will be a valuable resource for you and/or your carers and loved ones to understand and cope with any functional changes or challenges.
For more information and support please check out: www.mssociety.org.uk
Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
PD is a neurodegenerative disease which is characterised by a loss of the neurotransmitter Dopamine that is responsible for controlling and regulating the body’s movements. This can cause slowness of movement (bradykinesia), tremor (involuntary shaking), stiffness through limbs (rigidity), difficulties with walking, and changes in posture.
PD affects around 127,000 people in the UK, on average, symptoms start at around the age of 60. It is thought to be caused by both genetic and environmental factors.
Tailored exercise programmes are highly beneficial for people with PD and will be integral to maintaining your functioning. For 10 years Neurological Physiotherapy has been running physiotherapist led PD specific exercise classes. We have a range of classes to suit any physical level of presentation.
Research shows that exercise specifically tailored for PD can help with walking, balance, coordination, tremor, flexibility, and grip strength.
PD is a deteriorating condition but our therapists will be a valuable resource for you and/or your carers and loved ones to understand and cope with any functional changes or challenges.
For more information and support please check out: www.parkinsons.org.uk/
Ischemic Stroke
In the UK, 80% of all strokes are caused by a clot or blockage in the vessels that supply the blood to the brain. The brain, like any other organ in the body, needs a steady supply of oxygen via the bloodstream. When this is interrupted or stopped the cells of the brain begin to die. The symptoms that people experience after a stroke are dependent on where in the brain the damage has occurred.
Common symptoms after a stroke are weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including the face, leg and/or arm. Post stroke fatigue, speech and word finding difficulties, visual changes that can affect balance and cognitive changes can also occur.
For more information and support please check out: www.stroke.org.uk
Haemorrhagic Stroke (Brain Haemorrhage)
A haemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies the brain, ruptures and there is bleeding into or around the brain. This causes the blood supply to be interrupted, meaning, as with an ischemic stroke, brain cells begin to die.
There are two main types of brain haemorrhages: Intracerebral (bleeding within the brain itself) and Subarachnoid (bleeding into the protective layers that surround the brain). Cells die in the area of the bleed. 15% of strokes in the UK are haemorrhagic in nature.
The symptoms that people experience after a bleed are dependent on where in the brain the damage has occurred, the severity, and extent of it. Common symptoms are weakness and/or numbness on one side of the body including the arm and leg. Fatigue and headaches, speech and word finding difficulties, cognitive changes, visual or spatial awareness changes that can affect balance can also occur.
For more information and support please check out: The Natalie Kate Moss Trust: Brain Haemorrhage Charity | NKMT
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
ABI is an umbrella term for any damage to the brain that has occurred after birth. There are two types of ABI: Traumatic (such as following a fall or road traffic accident) and Non-traumatic (caused by a tumour, bleed or hypoxia/lack of oxygen to the brain). Brain injuries can be categorised as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the location and extent of damage to the brain tissue. The brain controls our body’s movement, sensation, impulse control and our emotions, so symptoms can be varied. Common symptoms can be weakness or changes in sensation to your arms or legs, visual changes, but also, changes to your personality and your thinking processes.
1.3 million people in the UK are living with the effects of a brain injury. Physiotherapy can help with the rehabilitation journey after brain injury.
For more information and support please check out: www.headway.org.uk
Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS)
GBS is a rare disease where the body’s own immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. This disease affects the nerves that control movement of the body and those that transmit sensations such as pain and temperature. The first symptoms of GBS are tingling and weakness in the legs that then spreads to the arms and the face. Although the cause is not fully understood, the majority of cases follow an infection or virus.
In most cases people recover from GBS within 12 months, although nerves can take much longer to recover. 1 in 5 people will be left with symptoms that affect their mobility, balance and coordination, arm and hand functioning, pain and fatigue. Physiotherapy can help with the rehabilitation journey after the onset of this disease.
For more information and support please check out: GAIN Charity: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) & Associated Neuropathies
Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
MND is a rare disease that affects the cells and nerves in the brain and spinal cord that control the muscles of our body. It causes gradual weakness, stiffening, and wasting of muscles all over the body. MND is thought to affect 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time. Its cause is unknown and symptom progression can vary but this disease is life shortening.
Some early signs of MND can be weakness in the leg, causing tripping or struggling with stairs, weakness in your hand, causing difficulties with gripping objects. Slurred speech or swallowing difficulties will develop over time. Muscle twitching and cramping also occur.
MND is a deteriorating condition but our therapists will be a valuable resource for you and/or your carers and loved ones to understand and cope with functional changes or challenges.
For more information and support please check out: MND Association | Fighting motor neurone disease
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
SCI is the umbrella term used to describe damage to the spinal cord. Damage to the spinal cord can cause loss of sensory and motor function below the point of injury. The spinal cord can be damaged through traumatic or non-traumatic causes. SCI can be categorised as complete or incomplete. An incomplete lesion means that the ability of the spinal cord to convey messages to or from the brain is not completely lost. Complete injuries prevent the communication between the brain and spinal cord, with a total loss of sensation and movement below the level of injury.
Physiotherapy can help with the management of tone, building strength and stamina, developing range of movement in joints, improving transfer methods and other functional tasks, postural management and gait retraining.
For more information and support please check out: Back Up Spinal Cord Injury Charity (backuptrust.org.uk), We are the expert, guiding voice for life after spinal cord injury – SIA
Cerebral Palsy (CP)
CP is a disorder caused by non progressive damage to the brain during childbirth or within the first two years of life. It is not always noticeable until the child begins to miss milestones during development.
CP can often cause alteration in muscle tone, loss of coordination, weakness in the arms and/or legs, mobility and balance problems.
For more information and support please check out: Action Cerebral Palsy (actioncp.org), Home – UP – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)
FND can cause symptoms that appear to result from a neurological condition or disease affecting the brain and/or spine. However, the symptoms are not caused by a direct problem with the central nervous system. FND impacts how the brain receives and sends information to the body.
Symptoms can vary in presentation and nature but common symptoms are changes in sensation eg. pins and needles or loss of sensation, muscle weakness/paralysis or twitching/jerking, fatigue and exhaustion and functional seizures.
For more information and support please check out: FND Action – Home
Movement Disorder
Movement Disorder is an umbrella term to describe conditions that affect the way the body moves and functions. These are conditions that can affect walking, balance, coordination, and posture. Commonly there is an increase in involuntary movement that interferes with functioning.
There are a number of different conditions classified as a Movement Disorder, some common diagnoses are Dystonia, Ataxia, Tremor, Huntington’s
Disease and Parkinson’s Disease/Parkinsonisms.
For more information and support please check out: Dystonia UK, Home – Ataxia UK, Huntington’s Disease Association – Home
Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP)
HSP is a general term for genetic conditions that cause weakness and stiffness through the leg muscles that deteriorate over time. 90% of people with HSP have weakness, spasticity, bladder issues, and sensory changes in the feet. It is passed on via one parent with this faulty gene.
For more information and support please check out: www.nhs.uk/conditions/hereditary-spastic-paraplegia/, rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/hereditary-spastic-paraplegia/
Myopathy
Myopathies are a class of muscle disorders where the main symptom is muscle weakness. This weakness can lead to muscle wastage and reduced ability to function. These diseases can be inherited or acquired.
For more information and support please check out: Myotubular Trust, Centronuclear Myopathy, TITIN, RYR1
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
ME or CFS is a long term condition that is characterised by extreme fatigue. It can affect both adults or children and can make everyday tasks impossible. The main symptoms are extreme exhaustion and tiredness and can cause sleep disorders including insomnia or sleeping too much.
This condition can also affect cognition, attention, and memory (often referred to as “brain fog”) and cause joint pain and muscle aches. Symptoms can often become worse after moving and exercise, meaning that one of the most important management strategies is pacing and energy conservation.
For more information and support please check out: The ME Association – The ME Association,
Neurological Physiotherapy
Oak House
2 Gatley Road
Cheadle
Stockport
Cheshire
SK8 1PY
Email: reception@neurologicalphysiotherapy.co.uk
Tel: 0161 491 4151
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