Neurological Problems

The brain, spinal cord and nerves make up what is known as the nervous system. Together these control the intricate working of the body. When an illness, accident or injury interferes with any part of the nervous system, individuals can experience difficulties with walking, speaking, swallowing, breathing and learning. Problems can also affect the individual's memory, concentration, mood and senses.

Our Occupational Therapists are highly trained in treating those with neurological conditions. Every individual is given a thorough assessment to establish what difficulties they experience. Our Occupational Therapists focus on minimising the effects difficulties such as, lack or balance or co-ordination have on day to day life. This may include the provisions of equipment or making small or large adaptations to home environment. All of which aim maximise the individual's level of independence. Our Occupational Therapists can also provide specifications for wet rooms, ramps and ground floor extensions as a successful addition to the range of treatments offered.

Associated difficulties with neurological problems

• limitations with Upper limb movements
• limitations with Lower limb movements
• Cognitive difficulties

Upper limb limitations
Individuals with neurological conditions can often experience changes in the joints and soft tissues in their upper limbs. This can make it extremely challenging for them to complete daily self-care activities such as washing, dressing, combing hair and brushing teeth. Our Occupational Therapists can offer recommendations / adaptations and splints can be made to promote recovery and prevent deterioration.

Lower limb limitations
Nerve pathways to the legs and feet can often be interpreted or even damaged in individuals with neurological conditions. This makes it extremely difficult for the individual to produce controlled and co-ordinated movements in their lower limbs. Unfortunately this impacts immensely on their day to day actives and hinders their ability to complete activities such as walking, running sitting and standing. Our Occupational Therapists can enhance an individual's independence in these areas through the provisions of aids and home adaptations.

Cognitive difficulties
If cognitive difficulties are present, our Occupational Therapists can develop and teach planning, organisational and memory strategies. This will enable the individual to become more independent in task such as cooking a meal or travelling on public transport. Our Occupational Therapists can also provide education and advice on how to cope with the physical and psychological effects of their condition. This again will enablethe individuals to achieve as much as they can for themselves and to get the most out of life. Through providing such effective treatment, our Occupational Therapists can make the world of difference to an individual's sense of independence and self-esteem.

Occupational Therapy Assessments for neurological problems

An integral part of the Occupational Therapy process is information gathering. One way our Occupational Therapists ascertain this information is through the use of assessments.These are carried out assessments on every individual, and enable our Occupational Therapists to determine what difficulties the individual is experiencing and how they impact on their day to day life.

Neuro-rehabilitation is definitely not a case of one size fits all, so our Occupational Therapists will work together with each and every individual and tailor-make a therapy programme that best meets their needs.
Suitable assessment for people with neurological problems include:

• Cognitive assessment
• Functional assessment
• Activities of daily living assessment
• Aids and adaptations
• Seating
• Wheelchair

All our Occupational Therapy assessments have the flexibility to be conducted in the individuals own home or here in one of our clinics. Assessments are also completed by a fully trained and experienced Occupational Therapists.

Occupational Therapy Treatment for Title

After making an initial assessment of the individual's needs, our Occupational therapists will work withtogether with the individual and set realistic goals and create anindividualised programme.This programme will give the individual the tools and strategies they need in order for them to achieve their goals in therapy. Our Occupational Therapy is practical in nature and takes place wherever it would be of most benefit. Our Occupational Therapist often encourage family members and carers to become involved in therapy, as their support is vital to the long term success of the rehabilitation programme.

Treatments include the following:

• Hand therapy
• Advice and education
• Aids and adaptations
• Fatigue management
• Home visits
• One on One treatments

Hand therapy
Hand therapy is a non-surgical management of hand disorders or injuries using physical method such as, exercises, splinting and if required wound care. Our Hand therapy for those with neurological disorders bring together the skills and knowledge of both an Occupational Therapists and a Physiotherapist. By doing this Our Occupational Therapists can assist with not only the emotional and psychological aspects but also the restore the function of the hand.

Advice and education
Our Occupational Therapists provide individuals with advice and education on how to grade activities appropriately. Grading activities is a method used by our Occupational Therapists which involves breaking down an activity into its smaller more manageable components. It is through applying this approach, whereby individuals with neurological difficulties can independently participate in their activities of daily living.

Aids and adaptations
Improving the functional ability of those with neurological conditions can done through the use of aids and adaptations. Our Occupational Therapists have the expert knowledge needed to provide appropriate aids and adaptions for those in need. All our aids and adaptations aim at improving an individual's functional independence and assist with activities such as washing, dressing, cooking and cleaning. As there is a wide selections of aids and adaptions available it is highly recommended that individuals seek professional advice before purchasing, as further impairment can occur if incorrect aids are used.

Fatigue management
Fatigue Management can be extremely difficult at times. Our Occupational Therapists offer fatigue management techniques which aim to enhance an individual's quality of life. Rating your fatigue levels at different times of the day, and in relation to different what activities are being completed, can highlight patterns, making it a lot easier for individual's to manage. Fatigue diaries are great way of identifying changes in fatigue levels and can aid in minimising and individual's level of fatigue.

Home visits
Our Occupational Therapists offer home visit to those who require it. Home visits are extremely beneficial and allow our Occupational Therapists to assess the home environment in great detail and offer accurate recommendations for home adaptations. For those with neurological difficulties, home adaptations can make a huge difference to their lives and will increase their independence overall.

One on One treatments
One to One Therapy sessions are very beneficial to those with neurological conditions. They offer privacy and more personalised therapy. Communication between therapist and individual often flows much more openly in one to one sessions which enables the therapists to gain a fuller insight into the individual's difficulties. Therapy in one to one sessions can also be tailored made and aim at addressing the individual's needs, wants and wishes.

All our Occupational Therapy treatments programmes are designed to meet the individual needs of those with neurological conditions. They aim to increase levels of independency and decrease the effects of the disability.

Conditions that OT commonly work with

Neurological problems can hugely impact on an individual's day to day life. It is therefore recommended that if required, individual's access the help and advice needed to enable them live a fulfilling and meaningful life. Our Occupational Therapists can assess and treat a number of neurological conditions some of which are listed below:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Acquired brain injury
• Cerebral palsy
• Parkinson's
• Epilepsy
• Stroke

The above list does not conclude all of the conditions our Occupational Therapists can treat, but is that of just a small sample. Our Occupational Therapists can offer those with any neurological difficulties treatment and new strategies to complete the everyday activities they are finding challenging.

Summary

The nervous system is a complex system that acts to regulate our body's response, both internally and externally. Although our bodies have established ways to protect this vital system, it still remains vulnerable and can become damaged easily. The result being loss of function and reduced quality of life. Our Occupational Therapists are highly trained professionals and can work with individuals with neurological disorder to enhance their quality of life and minimise the effects of their disability.

What to do next:

Our Occupational Therapist canprovide effective ongoing treatments of those with neurological difficulties. If you feel our Occupational Therapy would be of any benefit to you or a family member then please email us with any enquiries at office@londonot.com or call us on 02033 937 332