Our central nervous system consists of our brain and spinal cord. It controls all the functions of our body, including our breathing, heart rate, digestion, and movement.

Certain injuries and medical conditions can prevent the central nervous system from operating as it should. 

Head injuries, damage to the spinal cord, or neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s can prevent electrical signals from your brain from reaching different parts of your body. This can lead to a loss of sensation, a lack of coordination and reduced mobility. 

Neurological physiotherapy can help treat patients who have movement disorders in parts of their bodies due to neurological conditions. 

It can help rehabilitate and increase movement in some patients and can slow down the rate of deterioration of movement in others.  

When is neurological physiotherapy the right treatment option? 

Neurological physiotherapy can help people that are facing difficulties with their physical functions due to neurological issues that include

• - Stroke
• - Head Injury
• - Cerebral Palsy
• - Multiple Sclerosis
• - Spinal Cord Injury
• - Parkinson’s Disease

Common advice from neurological physiotherapists is that rehabilitation should begin as soon as possible after an injury or neurological condition occurs. But it’s equally important not to rush into anything. 

Our central nervous system is important, and it’s crucial that patients take the right approach to treatment if the central nervous system has suffered damage. 

Before considering neurological physiotherapy as a potential treatment, it’s important for a patient to speak to a GP or specialist to assess their condition and suitability. 

Patients should also understand that there are a lot of factors that influence how neurological issues affect different people, and how each individual responds to neurological treatment. 

Neurological physiotherapy can deliver impressive results for some patients but doesn’t have the same impact or rate of recovery for everyone. 

So, before anyone gets too attached to the idea of neurological physiotherapy – make sure there has been a conversation with a GP or specialist and that expectations of results are suitably managed. 

How does neurological physiotherapy work? 

Our brain controls the movement of our bodies through a vast number of neural connections.

When we suffer a neurological issue that affects our movement and mobility, it’s often the case that the synapses and neurons that control movement to that part of the body are damaged. 

Through the process of neuroplasticity, our brain is able to change, adapt and reorganise itself to create new neural connections based on our experiences. 

Neurological physiotherapy uses this concept of neuroplasticity to ‘re-wire’ the brain, forming new neural connections to help rehabilitate patients and help them regain their mobility.

Every course of neurological physiotherapy treatment is highly personalised. The approach is likely to differ depending on the severity of the neurological issue, the personal details of the patient, and the overall objective of the treatment. 

After being referred by a GP or specialist, a patient will typically be assessed by a trained neurological physiotherapist, and a personalised treatment plan will be agreed upon. 

It’s common for neurological physiotherapists to combine an element of psychology with their physical treatment – helping patients understand that they are responsible for their own efforts towards rehabilitation and encouraging the use of initiative and problem-solving techniques. 

Which techniques and exercises are likely to be included in neurological physiotherapy treatment? 

This all depends on the neurological issues a patient is facing, and the physiotherapy treatment agreed upon by their neurological physiotherapist. 

If a patient’s condition has them confined to a bed, initial physiotherapy might be focused on circulation and being able to move around comfortably and sit up straight. This is important to aid normal breathing and to prevent conditions such as deep vein thrombosis. 

There may also be the need to work on muscle strengthening exercises if certain muscles in the body have not been used for an extended period of time. Passive stretching, with the help of a physiotherapist, if needed, can help reduce stiffness in joints and help the patient retain a normal range of motion. 

Depending on an individual’s symptoms and treatment goals, exercises then typically progress to help a patient retrain their body to achieve normal movement, using a combination of techniques that include: 

• - Balance exercises
• - Joint mobilisation
• - Electrical stimulation
• - Improving fitness levels
• - Gait and posture exercises
• - Stretching and strengthening

There is often a focus on helping patients progress in their treatment under their own initiative and motivations, and understand their own potential. 

Neurological physiotherapists can often help patients improve their overall quality of life –  helping them regain their confidence and achieve as much independence as possible given their individual circumstances.

But patients should have their expectations managed that there are a lot of factors that influence the success of neurological physiotherapy treatment, and results will differ on a case-by-case basis. 

How can you find out more about neurological physiotherapy? 

If you’re interested in finding out more about neurological physiotherapy, contact our team of experts for an online consultation. 

CK Physiotherapy has a team of licenced and chartered neurological physiotherapists operating in the Ealing area.

After you book a consultation, one of our neurological therapists will connect with you to talk about your neurological status and GP referral status, before working with you to create an individualised treatment plan.

Get in touch today to find out more about neurological physiotherapy and how it can help.

References and further reading

Active Rehab – Neurological Physiotherapy

Physio.co.uk – Neurological Physiotherapy 

West Suffolk NHS – Passive Stretching Programme

News Medical – What is Neurophysiotherapy?

National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioural Medicine