Neurological Rehabilitation

Neurological physical therapy is a skilled specialty focusing on optimizing functional movement for those impaired by disease or injury to the nervous system.

Neurological Physical therapy starts with a comprehensive evaluation of tests and measures that assess the physical body function, movement safety, and functional independence of a person impacted by a disease or injury to the nervous system. The exam takes into consideration the pathological, social, and psychological aspects affecting the person. A treatment plan is established to optimize movement, improve safety with functional mobility, improve quality of life, and reach the individuals personal goals.

Commonly Treated Conditions

What to Expect During a Therapy Session

Treatment will include a variety of therapeutic activities and exercises including:

Transfer training
Gait training
Strength training
Restoring range of motion
Postural re-alignment
Core stabilization
Balance training
Cardiovascular endurance
Motor control and planning re-education
Pain and spasticity management
Prosthetic/orthosis training
Equipment evaluation, recommendations, and training

Treatment will be focused on a high intensity of repetitions and effort to improve neurotropic factors that prime the brain for optimal neuroplasticity. ²Evidence suggests that motor learning and neuroplasticity correlate with the intensity of aerobic exercise and activity level. ³

Why is therapy important?

Neurological physical therapy is vital to reducing functional loss from disease or injury to the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system. Without therapy patients may loss many functions, may be unable to perform certain activities, or may lose their independence. In addition, decreased activity can lead to many other health problems such as heart problems, lung problems, and diabetes. ⁴

Therapy works on the principles of neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the ability and process of the nervous system to change its activity after injury in response stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections.⁵

Resources

Park A & Kennedy B. American Physical Therapy Association. Neuro exam and treatment: The basics and beyond.
Boyne P, Meyrose C, Westover J, Whitesel D, Hatter K, Reisman DS, Cunningham D, Carl D, Jansen C, Khoury JC, Gerson M, Kissela B, Dunning K. Exercise intensity affects acute neurotrophic and neurophysiological responses poststroke. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2019 Feb 1;126(2):431-443. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00594.2018. Epub 2018 Dec 20. PMID: 30571289; PMCID: PMC6397406.
Kuo HI, Hsieh MH, Lin YT, Nitsche MA. Acute aerobic exercise at different intensities modulates motor learning performance and cortical excitability in sedentary individuals. eNeuro. 2023 Nov 3:ENEURO.0182-23.2023. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0182-23.2023. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37932044.
Neurological Physical therapy Available from: https://www.franciscanhealth.org/conditions-and-services/physical-therapy-and-rehabilitation/physical-therapy/neurological-physical-therapy
Puderbaugh M, Emmady PD. Neuroplasticity. [Updated 2023 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557811/