Neurological Disorders
Manual Physical Therapy
Physical therapists are movement experts and specialize in treating different neurological disorders including stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and spinal cord injury. At RPI we offer different programs depending on your neurological condition.
After a stroke or spinal cord injury, there is a certain amount of time that the remaining nerves can be trained to improve function. Delayed activity can lead to a decline in physical abilities. Neurological physical therapy can help train and rebuild fluid movement patterns. Maintaining independence is important after this kind of injury.
We also specialize in treating the movement dysfunctions that occur with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). PD is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that causes poor movement patterns. Symptoms of PD vary person to person, but common symptoms are small and slow movements. This can result in shuffling gait, coordination/balance deficits, and decreased strength. Therapists at both locations are trained in the LSVT BIG program (hyperlink to page) to treat this condition.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the brain and spinal cord causing serious disability. It can affect balance and mobility, causing every day exercises to be difficult such as climbing stairs and keeping balance while reaching. Physical therapy for MS involves exercises to improve strength and balance, as well as, manual therapy to help with stretching and soft tissue release for pain. There is also a large fatigue component with MS. Physical therapists understand this fatigue component and will appropriately dose exercise and provide the patient with energy conserving techniques.
With neurological diagnoses, treating early is important to help improve quality of life. For chronic diagnoses such as PD and Multiple Sclerosis, physical therapy can offer guidance and patient education as the condition progresses. Some proven benefits of physical therapy for neurological conditions include improved walking speed, endurance, strength, and confidence. We want to help to decrease your risk of falling, improve energy levels, and help navigate feelings of depression.
Please call our Clayton office at 314-644-1978 or Creve Coeur office at 314-648-8266.