Neurophysiotherapy
Branch of physiotherapy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neurophysiotherapy, or neurological physiotherapy, is a branch of physiotherapy which treats motor deficits arising from pathology in the nervous system.[1][2][3] The typical manifestation of neurological dysfunctions (pathology) is associated with diseases of the central nervous system.[1]
Overview
Neurophysiotherapy is a holistic approach that aims to restore movement, improve balance, build strength, and help patients with neurological diseases return to daily activities. It includes managing secondary symptoms like muscle stiffness, preventing complications, providing mobility aids, and most importantly, educating patients and their families on managing their condition. Neurophysiotherapists are trained in the analysis of ‘normal movement’. This involves knowing how the body moves in ‘normal situations’ and how the biomechanics of the body work to allow efficient movement.[1] A range of resources constitute current clinical practice in the assessment of people with a neurological condition, including textbooks, recommendations from professional associations and government bodies, disability frameworks such as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and condition-specific guidelines.[4]
Conditions
Neurophysiotherapy addresses conditions like head injury, spinal cord injury, loss of cognitive function from aging as well as balance disorders such as cerebral palsy (and movement disorders), degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, polyneuropathy (e.g., diabetic neuropathy or Guillain–Barré syndrome), peripheral nerve injuries, and acute cases such as patients recovering from stroke and elders recovering from COVID-19.[5][6]
