Neurologic Rehabilitation

Neurologic Physical Therapists work with individuals with either congenital (from birth) or acquired neurologic disease, dysfunction, or trauma:

• Alzheimer's Disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Arterialvenous Malformation
• Cerebral Palsy
• Cerebellar Disorders
• Central Nervous System Tumors
• Dystonia
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome
• Huntington's Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Myasthenia Gravis
• Parkinson's Disease
• Peripheral Nerve Injury
• Polio / Post-Polio Syndrome
• Radiculopathy
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Stroke
• Sub-arachnoid Hemorrhage
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Vestibular Dysfunction

Many of these individuals can have certain types of problems:

• An inability to perform activities of daily living such as
  • Getting in and out of bed
  • Walking
  • Going up and down stairs
  • Carrying out life roles in a safe, independent and efficient manner
• An inability to return to work or recreational activities
• Loss of flexibility or strength
• Loss of sensation
• Reduced vision
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing
• Confusion or diminished mental capacity
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Dizziness
• Impaired coordination
• Decreased endurance
• Poor balance
• Falls
• Caregivers have difficulty or are unsafe assisting with patient mobility
• Home or Work is not accessible to the individual

Neurologic Physical Therapist Rx

• Perform an examination and evaluation to establish
  • A functional diagnosis - A prognosis for functional recovery
  • The need for physical therapy services
  • A plan of care
• Provide intervention which may consist of
  • Direct intervention
  • Coordination of services
  • Discharge planning
  • Interventions list
    • Therapeutic exercise
    • Strengthening
    • Stretching
    • Aerobic conditioning
    • Sensory training
    • Coordination of movement
    • Balance training
    • Functional skills training such as moving in bed, walking, wheelchair skills, shopping, and returning to work
    • Prescribing orthoses and adaptive equipment
    • Instructing patients in directing their own care
    • Instructing caregivers in assisting with mobility
    • Environmental evaluation
    • Discharge planning
    • Case management
    • Referring to other professionals
    • Aquatic exercise

See www.neuropt.org for more information or go to: www.pediatricapta.org