Physiotherapy: Neurological

This team is specialist in providing assessment and treatment to inpatients and outpatients who have movement difficulties due to central nervous system pathology and genetic disorder. Members of this team also provide treatment to patients following lower limb amputation.

The Neurological Physiotherapy team is part of the Physiotherapy Department.

Our Neurological Physiotherapy team provides treatment to adults over the age of 18 years.The service is led by Specialist Physiotherapists; this means that we can provide you with the most effective treatment for your problem.

Conditions include: Cerebral Palsy, Guillain Barre Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson ’s Disease, Spinal Cord Injury, and Stroke.

We work in partnership with you and other health care professionals on treatment goals that are centred on your needs whether you are a patient in hospital, attending an outpatient appointment or we see you in a community setting.

We will help you to understand your symptoms, help you to improve and use your movement in the best way possible and help you to self-manage your condition.

Our Physiotherapists assess and treat people who have a variety of needs, these may include problems with: everyday activities, walking, balance, dizziness and pain.

Treatments include: support of a healthy lifestyle, increasing fitness, movement re-education, balance and flexibility training, strengthening, dizziness management, hydrotherapy and pain management.

Booking Office: To change or cancel an appointment: 0191 5699027

The office is open:

Monday to Thursday: 7.30 - 19.00
Friday: 7.30 - 18.00
Saturday: 8.00 - 13.00

Click here to change your appointment online

Physiotherapy Reception: General queries: 0191 5699028

The office is open:

Monday to Friday: 08.00 – 16.30

Key contacts

Divisional General Manager: Jackie Butterworth

Directorate Manager: Mandy Bates

Clinical Director: Mary Spearman

Head of Physiotherapy: Jill Graham

Neurological Physiotherapy Team Leader: Nina Lishman

Sunderland Royal Hospital site map and entrances

Inpatient services

The Neurological Physiotherapy team provide treatment to inpatients at Sunderland Royal Hospital, on the Acute Stroke Unit (Ward E58, E level) and the Hume Unit (Ward D41, D level).

Outpatient services

Outpatient services are mainly provided at Sunderland Royal Hospital, Entrance 8 (B level), Physiotherapy Department.

In-patient referral: You are able to access physiotherapy with a referral from the Ward Consultant, Specialist Nurse or Therapist.

Out-patient referral: You are able to access physiotherapy with a referral from your GP or from a City Hospitals Consultant, Specialist Nurse or Therapist.

Out-patient self-referral: You are able to self-refer to physiotherapy if you are under the care of a Consultant in City Hospitals Sunderland for Parkinson’s Disease or Multiple Sclerosis and you have previously been treated by our Physiotherapists.

Your first appointment is an assessment by a qualified Physiotherapist; to enable this and with your agreement you may be asked to remove relevant items of clothing. Please wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing and supportive footwear.

We will discuss how your symptoms are affecting your function and we will start to put together a treatment plan. This appointment will take 60 – 75 minutes; follow up appointments will be shorter than this.

Please bring with you:

List of current medication
Medication and refreshments you need in case of an unforeseen delay
Splints
Some patients find it useful to write a list of questions in preparation for the appointment

We welcome your feedback and suggestions. We believe that your feedback can add value to the care that you are given.

Please click on the link below to go to further information relating to how you can leave feedback on your care:

http://chsft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/friends-...

Patient Comments

"Physiotherapy has helped me to feel more in control of my movement"

"I am amazed at how much physiotherapy has helped, it has helped my fitness and motivation so much”

“Many thanks for all of your help and expertise in my recovery and also for contributing toward helping me get back to work”

“We are so grateful to you for all the hard work, time, patience, dedication and improvisation to help me move better. Progress is amazing and you are awesome at your job. Thank you for everything, we will miss attending physiotherapy"

The Neurological Physiotherapy team aren’t able to provide an exhaustive list of all the conditions they provide treatment and/or rehabilitation for; some of the more prevalent conditions that the team provide support for are detailed below.

Lower limb amputation

Definition

The cause of lower limb amputation is varied but can be as a result of trauma, peripheral vascular disease, secondary to diabetes or elective as a result of congenital abnormality.

Management

In association with the Disablement Service Centre at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle treatment includes assessment to establish if you will manage with prosthesis.

Physiotherapy

We work in co-ordination with other health professionals regarding wound management and pressure care. Treatments include:

Walking rehabilitation
Balance re-education
Strengthening

Useful links

British Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Amputee Rehabilitation

Disablement Services Centre

Limbless association

Smoke free NHS

Multiple Sclerosis

Definition

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a progressive auto immune condition where the coating around nerve fibres (myelin) is attacked and damaged leaving scars known as lesions or plaques. Messages travelling along nerve fibres are slowed down and become distorted. Over time the nerve fibres become damaged and the messages don’t get through at all. This process can cause increasing difficulty with movement.

Management

Is usually Consultant and Nurse led with Specialist Health Professional support. Treatment and self-management can help to control many of the symptoms.

Physiotherapy treatment

Physiotherapy can help with some of the physical problems associated with MS. Treatments include:

Exercise to help with, strength, endurance and balance
Spasticity management
Pain management
Motor pattern re-education
Advice about posture
Advice about physical aids and splints

Useful links

MS Research and Relief Fund

MS Society

MS Trust

Shift

Parkinsons Disease and Parkinsonisms

Definition

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition caused by a reduction in the levels of dopamine in the brain. PD affects people in different ways; the symptoms and the speed of progression vary.

Symptoms can include: difficulty with automatic movements, difficulty with starting and stopping movement, slow and small movement, muscle stiffness, stooped posture, communication difficulties and difficulties processing thoughts.

Parkinsonism

There are other conditions that can cause PD signs but do not respond to medical treatment in the same way. These conditions include: vascular Parkinson’s, drug induced Parkinson’s, Multiple Systems Atrophy and Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy. Like PD these conditions benefit from Physiotherapy.

Management

Is usually Consultant and Nurse led with Specialist Health Professional support. Treatment can help to manage many of the symptoms.

Physiotherapy treatment

Physiotherapy can help with some of the physical problems associated with PD. Treatments include:

Cueing strategies to aid movement
Exercise to manage stiffness and maintain posture
Pain management
Long term self-management strategies and support in the community

Useful links

Age UK

Fulwell Community Resource Centre

Parkinson's UK

PD local groups

Regional and country teams, including local advisors

Social media:

Facebook

Twitter

Stroke

Definition

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is disrupted or cut off. This happens because of a blockage or bleeding of the blood vessels on or around the brain.

Symptoms are varied and depend upon which part of your brain is affected. Physical symptoms of Stroke include problems with vision, balance, strength, muscle stiffness and/or spasms.

Management

Is usually Consultant and Nurse led with a specialist Health Professional support. Treatment can help to support recovery and to manage many of the Stroke symptoms.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy can help with some of the physical problems associated with Stroke this includes:

Specific exercises to help with, strength, endurance and balance
Spasticity management
Motor pattern re-education
Advice about posture
Advice about physical aids and splints

Useful links

Stroke Association

The Stroke Network

Carers UK

Other conditions

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

Definition: ABI is damage to the brain caused by traumatic brain injury (e.g. physical trauma due to accidents, assaults, neurosurgery, head injury etc.) or non-traumatic injury (e.g. brain tumours, infection, poisoning, hypoxia, ischemia, encephalopathy or substance abuse). ABI does not include damage to the brain resulting from neurodegenerative disorders.

Management: Symptoms are varied and depend upon which part of your brain is affected. Treatment can help to support recovery and to manage many of the symptoms. Physiotherapy can help with some of the physical problems

Learn more at:

Headway

Cerebellar Ataxia

Definition: Cerebellar Ataxia is a group of hereditary, progressive neurodegenerative conditions with varied symptoms including visual disturbance, reduced balance and reduced co-ordination.

Management: Treatment is aimed at maintaining postural control, maintaining strength in muscles, balance exercises and advice to maintain safe mobility.

Learn more at

Ataxia UK

Cerebral Palsy

Definition: Cerebral Palsy is a term used to describe neurological disorders caused by non-progressive damage to the developing brain as a result of injury of malformation prior to, during or soon after birth.

Management: Although Cerebral Palsy is not a progressive condition individuals may find that as they get older it becomes more difficult to manage everyday tasks or help may be needed after periods of ill health or surgery.

Learn more at:

Cerebral Palsy: NHS Choices

Scope

Cerebral Palsy

Carers UK

Muscular Dystrophy (MD)

Definition: MD is a group of inherited genetic conditions that gradually causes the muscles to weaken, leading to an increasing level of disability. MD is caused by changes (mutations) in the genes responsible for muscle fibre structure and over time this impacts on the way that muscles function.

Management: Each type of MD has slightly different age of onset and type of presentation, this may influence physiotherapy treatment. Physiotherapy can help with some of the physical problems.

Learn more at:

Muscular Dystrophy UK

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Definition: SCI is damage to the spinal cord that causes changes in its function, either temporary or permanent. Damage to the spinal cord can be due to physical trauma (fall, road traffic accident, sports injury) or nontraumatic causes (infection, insufficient blood flow, tumor, degenerative changes).

Management: The spine is stabilized and inflammation is controlled. Treatment is provided from a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation team.

The amount of movement recovery is dependent on the amount of damage to the spinal cord.

Learn more at:

Spinal Injuries Association

James Cook: Spinal Injuries Unit