Our team provides treatment to adults over the age of 18 years.  We are specialist in providing assessment and treatment to outpatients who have movement difficulties due to central nervous system pathology and genetic disorder.

The service is led by Advanced and Highly Specialist Physiotherapists, so that we can provide you with the most effective treatment for your problem. We will help you to understand your symptoms, help you to use your movement in the best way possible and help you to self-manage your condition.

Our Physiotherapists assess and treat people who have a variety of needs, these may include problems with: everyday activities, walking, balance, dizziness and pain.

Treatments include: support of change to a healthier lifestyle, fitness, movement re-education, balance training, dizziness management, hydrotherapy and pain management.

Finding us
  • Inpatient services

The Neurological Physiotherapy team provide treatment to inpatients at Sunderland Royal Hospital, on the Acute Stroke Unit (Ward E58, E level) and the Hume Unit (Ward D46, D level).

 Monday – Sunday: 8.30 – 16.30

  • Outpatient services

Sunderland Royal Hospital, Entrance 8 (B level), Physiotherapy Department.

Monday – Friday: 8.30 – 16.30

South Tyneside District Hospital: Moorlands

Core Hours: Monday – Friday:  08.30 – 16.30

 

 

Referral
  • In-patient referral

You are able to access physiotherapy with a referral from the Ward Consultant, Specialist Nurse or Therapist.

Your first appointment

Your first appointment is an assessment by a qualified Physiotherapist. We will discuss how your symptoms are affecting your function and we will start to put together a treatment plan. This appointment will take 60 – 75 minutes; follow up appointments will be shorter than this.

Please bring with you:

  • Some patients find it useful to write a few questions in advance of the appointment
  • Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing and supportive footwear
  • Splints

Your feedback

We welcome your feedback and suggestions. We believe that your feedback can add value to the care that you are given.

Please click here to go to further information relating to how you can leave feedback on your care:

Patient Comments

"Physiotherapy has helped me to feel more in control of my movement"

"I am amazed at how much physiotherapy has helped, it has helped my fitness and motivation so much”

“Many thanks for all of your help and expertise in my recovery and also for contributing toward helping me get back to work”

“We are so grateful to you for all the hard work, time, patience, dedication and improvisation to help me move better. Progress is amazing and you are awesome at your job. Thank you for everything, we will miss attending physiotherapy"

Conditions

Our Neurological Physiotherapy team aren’t able to provide an exhaustive list of all the conditions they provide treatment and/or rehabilitation for; some of the more prevalent conditions that the team provide support for are detailed below.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a progressive auto immune condition where the coating around nerve fibres (myelin) is attacked and damaged leaving scars known as lesions or plaques. Messages travelling along nerve fibres are slowed down and become distorted. Over time the nerve fibres become damaged and the messages don’t get through at all. This process can cause increasing difficulty with movement.

Management is usually Consultant and Nurse led with Specialist Health Professional support. Treatment and self-management can help to control many of the symptoms.

Physiotherapy can help with some of the physical problems associated with MS. Treatments include: exercise to help with, strength, endurance and balance, spasticity management, pain management, motor pattern re-education and advice about posture, physical aids and splints.

Parkinsons and Parkinsonisms

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition caused by a reduction in the levels of dopamine in the brain. PD affects people in different ways; the symptoms and the speed of progression vary.

Symptoms can include: difficulty with automatic movements, difficulty with starting and stopping movement, slow and small movement, muscle stiffness, stooped posture, communication difficulties and difficulties processing thoughts.

There are other conditions that can cause PD signs but do not respond to medical treatment in the same way. These conditions include: vascular Parkinson’s, drug induced Parkinson’s, Multiple Systems Atrophy and Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy. Like PD these conditions benefit from Physiotherapy.

Management is usually Consultant and Nurse led with Specialist Health Professional support. Treatment can help to manage many of the symptoms.

Physiotherapy can help with some of the physical problems associated with PD. Treatments include: cueing strategies to aid movement, exercise to manage stiffness and maintain posture, pain management, long term self-management strategies and support in the community.

Stroke

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is disrupted or cut off. This happens because of a blockage or bleeding of the blood vessels on or around the brain.

Symptoms are varied and depend upon which part of your brain is affected. Physical symptoms of Stroke include problems with vision, balance, strength, muscle stiffness and/or spasms.

Management is usually Consultant and Nurse led with a specialist Health Professional support. Treatment can help to support recovery and to manage many of the Stroke symptoms.

Physiotherapy can help with some of the physical problems associated with Stroke this includes: specific exercises to help with, strength, endurance and balance, spasticity management, motor pattern re-education, advice about posture, physical aids and splints.

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

ABI is damage to the brain caused by traumatic brain injury (e.g. physical trauma due to accidents, assaults, neurosurgery, head injury etc.) or non-traumatic injury (e.g. brain tumours, infection, poisoning, hypoxia, ischemia, encephalopathy or substance abuse). ABI does not include damage to the brain resulting from neurodegenerative disorders.

Symptoms are varied and depend upon which part of your brain is affected. Treatment can help to support recovery and to manage many of the symptoms. Physiotherapy can help with some of the physical problems

Cerebellar Ataxia

Cerebellar Ataxia is a group of hereditary, progressive neurodegenerative conditions with varied symptoms including visual disturbance, reduced balance and reduced co-ordination.

Treatment is aimed at maintaining postural control, maintaining strength in muscles, balance exercises and advice to maintain safe mobility.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a term used to describe neurological disorders caused by non-progressive damage to the developing brain as a result of injury of malformation prior to, during or soon after birth.

Although Cerebral Palsy is not a progressive condition individuals may find that as they get older it becomes more difficult to manage everyday tasks or help may be needed after periods of ill health or surgery.

Muscular Dystrophy (MD)

MD is a group of inherited genetic conditions that gradually causes the muscles to weaken, leading to an increasing level of disability. MD is caused by changes (mutations) in the genes responsible for muscle fibre structure and over time this impacts on the way that muscles function.

Each type of MD has slightly different age of onset and type of presentation, this may influence physiotherapy treatment. Physiotherapy can help with some of the physical problems.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

SCI is damage to the spinal cord that causes changes in its function, either temporary or permanent. Damage to the spinal cord can be due to physical trauma (fall, road traffic accident, sports injury) or nontraumatic causes (infection, insufficient blood flow, tumor, degenerative changes).

The spine is stabilized and inflammation is controlled. Treatment is provided from a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation team.

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