A wide range of treatment techniques and approaches from different philosophical backgrounds are utilized in Neurological Rehabilitation. Research to support the different approaches varies hugely, with a wealth of research to support the use of some techniques while other approaches have limited evidence to support its use but rely on anecdotal evidence. This section provides a brief overview of some of the approaches used in Neuro Rehabilitation.
Neurological physical therapy is extremely important for those patients who have had or who currently have neurological diseases or injuries. The brain and spinal cord and the central nervous system control movement and sensation. Injuries to these areas, the brain or spinal cord can cause death of the cells that control certain movements and sensations, and therefore people lose function. Without neurological physical therapy following a neurological injury, patients may lose many functions and not be able to perform certain activities. Decreased intensity of activity leads to many other health problems such as diabetes, heart problems, lung problems, decreased independence, and an overall poor quality of life.
Following the neurological disorder or injury, there is a certain amount of time when the cells that are not injured in the brain and spinal cord can learn to control the missing functions. Physical therapists are very well-informed about human movement and can teach patients how to move correctly again. This skilled assistance can help patients regain some to most of the functions they lost because of the injury. Most of the patients can learn to live their lives independently again, which makes them happier with their lives and contributes to their overall quality of life.
Neurological Physical Therapy Treatment
- Restore range of motion
- Improve functional movement and strength
- Gait Training
- Postural re-alignment
- Improve safety of transfers and mobility
- Balance re-training and decrease risk of fall
- Core stabilization
- Activities of Daily Living (ADL) performance
- Visual Perceptual Skill retraining
- Cardiovascular endurance
- Improve motor planning and motor control
- Decrease spasticity/tone
- Prosthesis/orthoses training
- Equipment evaluation/recommendation to include wheelchairs, cane, walkers or crutches
