Physiotherapy is an allied health discipline aimed at helping people move more easily, recover from injury or improve their ability to carry out everyday tasks.
In other words, physiotherapy is about helping people do more of the things that matter the most to them.
If you’re living with a neurological condition or disability, physiotherapy can be particularly helpful if you’re looking to improve movement, balance, strength, walking, coordination, transfers or pain management.
Physiotherapy will help you work towards specific functional goals, which are practical targets to help improve someone’s independence. This can include anything from grabbing a glass of water, to brushing your teeth, or transferring independently from chair to bed.
Physiotherapists have the expertise to safely manage complex conditions and any challenges that might arise as a result. They can also adapt exercises to your abilities and prescribe exercise equipment to be used at home, including walking frames, to support home exercise programmes.
Both physiotherapists and exercise physiologists play an important role in rehabilitation, and the right choice depends on your goals and current needs. Oftentimes physiotherapists and exercise physiologists work closely together, and many people benefit from seeing both.
Whereas a physiotherapist addresses movement, pain, balance, walking, mobility and physical function, an exercise physiologist will prescribe exercise to improve strength, fitness and overall health for the long term.
Physiotherapists support people living with a wide range of neurological conditions and physical disabilities, including but not limited to:
- Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
- Stroke
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Cerebral Palsy
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)
- Peripheral neuropathies
- Neuromuscular conditions
- Balance disorders
- Other neurological or physical disabilities
Physiotherapy can be funded through your NDIS funding, as long as physiotherapy is considered reasonable and necessary to help achieve your NDIS goals. Others may be able to access physiotherapy via My Aged Care or Medicare (through a Chronic Disease Management Plan (CP Care Plan). Again, eligibility criteria apply. If you’re unsure what funding you can access, our teams can help guide you through your options.
Choosing the right physiotherapist for you can be overwhelming, however below are a few places to start:
Find a local NeuroMoves gym to you – we have 16 locations across Australia, offering in-clinic and mobile neurological specific physiotherapy services. Get in touch for more information.
Speak to your doctor – they will be able to refer you to a suitable provider.
Quick Google search – to compare the best option based on location, programs and availability.
