Strokes and Neurological Physiotherapy

ThreeSpires Physiotherapy offers a home visit neurological physiotherapy service for help with recovering from a stroke, We are based in Lichfield and provide neurological physiotherapy in surrounding areas such as Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Rugeley, Walsall and Cannock. If you or a relative have had a stroke then it is important that you receive as much physiotherapy as possible in order to make the maximum possible recovery. This page gives more detail about strokes, the causes, effects and how physiotherapy can make a real difference.

Firstly a stroke is a neurological event in the brain which causes some of the neurons (brain cells) to die. There are two main causes - firstly there can be a blockage of one of the cerebral arteries which causes a loss of blood flow and subsequent neuronal damage (Ischaemic stroke) and secondly there can be a bleed in the brain from a burst blood vessel which then causes swelling and compression of other blood vessels and subsequent death of brain cells. This second type is called a hemorrhagic stroke and is much less common than the former. Whatever the actual cause the effects, as anyone who has had experience can testify can be severe - often one side of the body will be affected causing muscle weakness, slurred speech, vision problems and reduced mobility.

Recent Strokes (Less than 6 months)

Anyone who has recently had a stroke, even if the effects have been mild, should have a full and detailed neurological physiotherapy assessment to determine if there are any underlying problems that need working on or improving such as a slight loss of balance or strength. For those patients who have been affected more severely it is vital that they receive a large volume of physiotherapy to help re-establish normal movement patterns, make new connections in the brain and maximise recovery. In the initial stages after a stroke you will almost certainly be in hospital recovering and at this point you should be receiving daily physiotherapy input (45 mins a day), however once you come out of hospital you will still need a significant amount of physiotherapy and rehabilitation. It is at this point that our home visit physiotherapy service can really make a difference, our physiotherapists can come out to you at home and carry out a thorough assessment to determine how to proceed and what you can do to maximise recovery. Importantly we use hands on techniques to facilitate normal movement patterns and also give you an exercise plan to carry out in between sessions. We are able to supplement NHS physiotherapy provision when due to resource constraints they are unable to deliver the optimal amount of rehabilitation and we can liaise with any therapists to form a comprehensive plan of treatment. Our home visit neurological physiotherapy service is based in Lichfield and serves surrounding areas such as Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Rugeley, Walsall and Cannock. So, if you need physiotherapy after a stroke please get in touch.

Longer Term Stroke Recovery

Research seems to show that much of the recovery made by patients after a stroke is made within the first 6 months, however our experience with patients would suggest that there is still significant room for improvement with patients a long period after the initial stroke.

This is for a variety of reasons such as not continuing with exercise programs, not having the exercise programs adjusted and changed to maximise potential, getting into bad movement habits that avoid certain actions that are difficult or sometimes it is simply down to a lack of confidence and fear. Our physiotherapists can help you with all of these problems and enable you to still make significant improvements despite a long period after the initial stroke. Our approach is very much hands on, helping your limbs and body re-establish normal movements (this can feel very difficult at the time) and also giving you exercises to improve balance, posture, strength and movement.

Due to the complex nature of neurological conditions such as stroke, the lengthy assessment process and the need for ongoing re-assessment as patients improve; all treatment sessions are 1 hour in length including follow ups. It is our experience that this extended period of time allows for a much greater benefit and response to therapy and is especially beneficial for older patients who may fatigue quickly and may need longer rest periods in sessions

If you, a relative or a friend have had a stroke and want more information regarding how physiotherapy can make a difference to recovery, then please get in touch. We are a home visit physiotherapy service based in Lichfield and serving anywhere within a 25 minute drive including Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Cannock, Burton, Rugeley and Burntwood. We can be contacted on 0788 428 1623 or at enquiries@threespiresphysiotherapy.co.uk