Moving around can be difficult enough for those of us who haven’t experienced strokes. But I think it’s impossible for us to understand, how difficult it must be, for someone who has trouble standing, let alone walking.

People with stroke often have difficulty balancing when standing and find the effort required to remain standing tiring. Furthermore, safe opportunities to practice standing are generally limited in the early stages of stroke recovery. A key part of neurological physiotherapy is to work with people with hemiplegia and encourage more balanced and confident standing. read more

Often the diagnosis of a neurological condition follows some time of wondering what is wrong. Sometimes even being told that nothing is wrong but later discovering there is. Whatever the circumstances of a diagnosis, such as Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis, there is uncertainty and often anxiety over what the future holds. read more

There are 2 main reasons for the belief about the 6 month deadline. Partly it’s rooted in out-of-date theories about how the brain works and also because many doctors and other health professionals who deal with strokes don’t often see the patients who’ve made longer-term progress.

The NHS does not have the resources to provide long-term treatment for stroke patients, so treatment tends to be very much focused on the initial period after a stroke. However, this very unhelpful belief, puts a lot of pressure on patients in hospital who are struggling to come to terms with having had a stroke but who can already hear the clock ticking away. It also discourages people from reaching their recovery potential because they think that further treatment will bring no benefit. read more

Until relatively recently the consensus was that the brain was a fixed structure that couldn’t change much over time. Thus stroke damage was seen as irreparable. However, leaps and bounds in neuroscience over the past few years have shown that the brain is a much more fluid and flexible structure than we previously believed. The neuroplasticity of the brain is truly remarkable and largely thanks to Paul Bach-y-Rita, it is now common knowledge. The ability of the brain to “re-wire” itself by creating new connections and reassigning neural circuits for different tasks explains how the brain can re-organise itself to recover at least some of the movement abilities that are lost after a stroke. read more

For a long time, scientists believed that the adult brain was a fixed structure and that it couldn’t change much over time. This was why there was a belief that recovery could only happen during the period immediately after a stroke. However, the amazing developments in neuroscience over the past few years have shown that the brain is a much more flexible and responsive structure than we previously believed. read more

Having a stroke is a sudden and shocking experience. Whilst in hospital, people who have had strokes usually get treatment from neurological physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. Treatment is most effective when delivered in stroke units.

However, with the pressure on hospital beds, people will often get an early supported discharge with treatment continuing at home. Rehabilitation at home in this way should be a continuation of the stroke rehabilitation done in hospital. Unfortunately, there are often gaps in the provision of service. Delays are common, reducing the intensity of treatment and therefore optimum recovery. read more

Looking for someone to come along to your group and talk about neurological rehabilitation? We give talks to a number of local groups supporting people who have had strokes, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.  Please get in touch if you would like us to come along to your support group. read more