NEUROLOGICAL REHABILITATION

Physiotherapy in Neurology

Physiotherapy in Neurological Cases is practiced across almost the entire spectrum of neurological diseases, often with impressive results.

Neurological diseases such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, as well as injuries to the peripheral nerves, the skull (craniocerebral) and the brachial plexus belong to this category.

A common consequence of these conditions is motor problems and sensory impairments. These changes make daily activities such as walking, getting up from a chair, eating, writing, driving, and others difficult.

Patients who experience new neurological symptoms often do not know how to manage this uncomfortable situation. Insecurity, inadequacy in simple activities and psychological pressure are factors that often lead to the cessation of basic mobilization.

Neurological Physiotherapy is the answer to all of the above as, with specialized techniques, it will lead to a return (complete or partial) to normality.

The role of Physiotherapy in rehabilitation

The physiotherapy approach to diseases of the nervous system focuses on restoring functionality.

The goal is to maximize the patient's motor abilities so that he can cope in the best possible way with his daily activities.

In this plan, our therapists develop specific strategies tailored to the patient's needs. A key part of this strategy is the separation of therapeutic goals into short-term and long-term.

Thus, a therapeutic goal, such as walking, which may seem impossible at first glance, will be broken down into smaller ones so that they are achievable and ultimately compose the larger goal we have set.

We often receive patients who have been disappointed with previous treatment plans because there was no proper and sustainable planning. Proper and well-structured reactivation can reverse such situations and the patient can finally achieve a return to functional everyday life.

We must not forget that most neurological problems are also accompanied by musculoskeletal dysfunctions, which are often painful.

Physiotherapy in neurological conditions aims to prevent and restore such musculoskeletal problems, so that on the path to normality we have as few obstacles as possible.

The evaluation and treatment process

The first step is a thorough assessment of the patient's condition.

Diseases or injuries of the nervous system can cause a range of symptoms which in turn can negatively affect a patient's mobility.

Common motor symptoms include muscle weakness, spasticity, hypotonia, loss of sensation, and lack of coordination. Memory, concentration, or speech problems may also coexist.

Given the complexity of neurological symptoms, a thorough evaluation of the patient is initially performed.

Through the process, the therapist can collect information to target the most important problems for the patient during treatment.

The second step is treatment based on the factors identified during the evaluation process for the specific patient.

The main focus of the treatment is to improve the individual's functionality. In this way, the patient and the therapist choose which daily activities are a priority for improvement.

The treatment program is then designed, governed by the following principles:

The treatment is active and based on patient participation.
The approach is based on the process of learning new motor skills by the patient.
The patient is guided by the therapist during the session, but is also taught exercises to do at home.

Special treatment techniques

Rehabilitation of neurological diseases requires specialized therapeutic intervention.

The scientific basis of the center's therapists is the Bobath approach.

The Bobath approach was developed in England in the middle of the last century and is the most widely used method of rehabilitation of neurological injuries in the United Kingdom and in many countries around the world.

The Bobath method focuses on analyzing the patient's problems and the use of special manipulations by the therapist to facilitate functional movements.

However, other approaches are also used to complete the treatment, such as:

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
Strategies to improve motor learning (Motor Relearning)
Biomechanical dysfunction balancing techniques (Maitland, Myofascial TrP)
Nervous tissue mobilization techniques (Neurodynamics)
Vodder technique in cases of parallel edema