This is a question I get asked quite often. Most people know that a physiotherapist is able to help rehabilitate sporting injuries, sore backs, sore knees, and so on. What many people don’t necessarily know is that some physiotherapists, like us here at Simpson Physiotherapy, specialise in helping people who have a condition affecting the brain, spinal cord and nerves.
Neurophysiotherapy is a specialism with Physiotherapy that focuses on the rehabilitation of movement and independence in people who have survived a stroke, those who are living with Parkinson’s Disease or Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
After a brain injury like a stroke, for example, your brain is unable to grow new brain cells to ‘hela’ the damaged area. Recovery and improvement in muscle strength, walking and balance is dependent on your brains ability to reorganise how the un-damaged, healthy brain cells and how they talk to each other and the spinal cord in a functional way, this is what’s called Neuroplasticity. Neurophysiotherapists, like us at Simpson Physiotherapy, specialise at facilitating neuroplasticity following a stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s Disease, MS, etc., helping the brain make new connections and pathways to promote recovery of movement in the body (trunk), arms and legs.
Neurophysiotherapists are experts at rehabilitation and promoting recovery of function following injury. To achieve this we can use a number of different techniques during your therapy: from muscle and movement retraining and supported exercises, to manual (hands-on) techniques. We can also use electrotherapy modalities, such as Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), to help your recovery. In my opinion, the most important thing we teach, is supported self-management – where we give you, your family and your carers the tools, techniques and understanding to allow you to take control of your own recovery. Helping you live as active and independent life as possible.
Thank you again for taking the time to read this article, I hope it has helped give you a little better understanding of how getting the right help and support form a specialist.
If you think that you need some support from us, please fill out a form on our website and we will get in touch.
Warm regards,
J Fraser Simpson MSc
Neuro and Older Adult Specialist Physiotherapist
Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
