Neurological physiotherapy

The neurological physiotherapy service cares for people with neurological problems at the Regional Neurosciences Centre at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

What is neurophysiotherapy?

A neurophysiotherapist assesses and treats people with neurological conditions.

These are conditions associated with the central nervous system – the brain, spinal cord and nerves. People with neurological conditions can often have complex problems including:

Muscle weakness
Stiffness
Balance problems
Sensory changes.

These conditions can have a huge impact on the body’s function, and on day-to-day activities.

Neurological disorders and diseases

Our physiotherapists see a huge range of disorders and diseases in patients. Some of the more common disorders we see include:

Head injury
Spinal cord injury
Tumours of the central nervous system
Spinal surgery
Stroke
Multiple Sclerosis
Guillain barre syndrome
Parkinson’s disease
Polyneuropathies
Motor Neurone Disease
Muscular Dystrophy
Functional Neurological Disorders

What to expect from a physiotherapy session?

The physiotherapy team assesses and treats patients from admission to discharge. If needed, we refer you onto follow-up services after discharge from hospital.

Assessment: we carry out a full initial physical assessment and get detailed information about your medical history, previous mobility and body function, personal and social situation. This helps to decide a patient’s individual needs and goals, and create a treatment plan.
Treatment: treatment is centred on a your individual needs. We encourage people to manage themselves, and involve family/carers in the treatment. We work with other professionals and use specialised treatment techniques to help you achieve the best level of function possible and offer advice, support and help to solve problems for every patient.
Equipment: after assessment, we can provide equipment such as walking aids and splints. We can refer patients to specialist services for wheelchairs, orthotics (such as braces, corsets, collars) and occupational therapy for splints and equipment to help with day-to-day activities.
Discharge and follow-up: we work with local and regional services, other hospitals and specialist teams so that patients who need further care can receive it when discharged from hospital.

Items to bring to neurophysiotherapy sessions

As well as items recommended by nursing staff, we suggest inpatients should bring:

a sturdy pair of slippers or shoes
comfortable loose fitting clothes
swimwear – if hydrotherapy has been suggested by your physiotherapist
your normal walking aid – labelled and clearly identifiable.

Outpatients

If you are an outpatient, you should wear comfortable loose fitting clothes, and bring some shorts if appropriate.

Our physiotherapy team

Our team of healthcare professionals works with inpatients, outpatients and in clinics closer to your home.

The team includes:

Specialist neurological physiotherapists
Rotational neuro-physiotherapists
Junior physiotherapists
Assistant physiotherapists.

Our physiotherapists work with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to treat and support patients during their hospital stay and beyond.

Students

As a teaching hospital, student physiotherapists may observe or treat you during your stay. If you would prefer not to have a student, please speak to a physiotherapist.