Neurological conditions impact how well you can move, but thankfully physical therapy can help you get back in action after your diagnosis. I am Toni Drinkard, a physical therapist here at Rebound Physical Therapy in Topeka, Kansas. Today we’re going to talk about how physical therapy can help with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s, stroke and even multiple sclerosis (MS).
What We Address in Physical Therapy
A lot of times, people think physical therapy is just moving the muscles and joints, but there’s so much more to the neuromuscular system that we can address. The nerves send signals to the muscles; but with a neurological condition, that communication is being disrupted somehow. In physical therapy, our goal is to train those neural pathways, create muscle memory, and build coordination, balance, and core stabilization. We do a ton of different activities to help the patient with their functional lives and activities of daily living.
The Biggest Challenge for Patients with Neuromuscular Conditions
With these neuromuscular conditions, we see a lot of need for balance training. Parkinson’s, stroke and MS affect a patient’s ability to balance, which leads to increased risk of injury. Our physical therapists work with patients to improve balance and coordination for patients with neuromuscular conditions and improve their quality of life.
When we talk about Parkinson’s, for example, sometimes a patient’s gait pattern involves a lot of shuffling because their movements are hard to start and stop. With physical therapy, we can help train those areas and facilitate trunk rotation, or multi-planar movements as we call it. Sometimes we focus on just walking forward or backwards, and of course we’re right there with patients. We do balance training so that we’re creating a safe environment. We challenge them, and we move in different planes so that, when they have to get something out of the fridge at home, they have the balance control to be able to do it and not be a fall risk.
Call Rebound for an Evaluation
Physical therapy can address all these different areas that you might not even know that you’re weak in or that you have a limitation in. So come check us out at Rebound or give us a call at (785)-271-5533 if you or a loved one has a neurological condition. We would love to help you get back in action working towards your goals.
