The benefits of physical therapy can extend beyond the joints and muscles most people associate with this medical specialty. Many neurological disorders and conditions can affect the body’s motion, balance, and function in ways that physical therapists can help treat.
After an evaluation, our physical therapists might be able to recommend a holistic treatment plan to recover lost dexterity or mitigate the symptoms of certain neurological conditions to help people live more independently and with improved function.
Types of Neurotherapy
The neurotherapy treatments we offer combine physical movements and strength training with reconditioning the brain to activate or better control neuromuscular pathways to give people a better quality of life. Each treatment plan is based on evaluations and tests to establish a baseline for treating a person’s symptoms, including tests from a medical doctor like EEGs or MRI scans. A physical therapist can provide a balance and gait assessment to understand the functional effects of a neurological disorder.
There are a wide variety of techniques we can use to provide biofeedback to the nervous system depending on the type and severity of the symptoms a person is experiencing. Some treatments target specific nerves or muscles whereas others seek to alter the overall patterns in the brain.
Neurological conditions we treat
The symptoms of different neurological conditions we treat are varied, which means we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to any diagnosis. Instead, we focus on improving the lived experience of each patient as their symptoms present. We have experience and evidence-based approaches to neurological disorders such as:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stroke
How physical therapy can help treat neurological disorders
These events or conditions require holistic therapies to best re-train the brain when necessary and strengthen the muscular response to desired movements. For example, physical therapists can utilize a therapy called LSVT-BIG to help prolong functional movements and dexterity.
Because of the wide range of tools and techniques available, each person’s treatment plan will likely look quite different from everyone else’s. After stroke events, for example, a relatively short-term treatment program might be effective in retraining the brain for the long term, especially with diligent follow-up assessments and sustained at-home care. For other conditions, gradual and meaningful improvement may be possible, and the use of assistive devices might be required.
We provide personalized recommendations and training for the use of any such devices, as well as recommendations for how to make the living space at home more maneuverable or accessible to those using them.
These techniques are highly personalized but often effective in developing a working solution for the person who comes in for treatment to live a more independent lifestyle.
Start neurological therapy for you or a loved one
We encourage you to start a conversation with our team by calling a nearby office location today or requesting an appointment online. Recovery and improved mobility are possible in many cases, and we will work hard to find a therapeutic approach that best meets your goals.
