Our nervous systems are the electrical grids of our bodies that allows us to move, regulate hormones, and feel pain. The nervous system includes the brain, the spinal cord, and all the nerves branching off to the tips of our fingers and toes. There are many different congenital and acquired disorders and conditions that can affect any part of the system. Even the most basic functions we take for granted can be compromised with a neurological disorder, such as the ability to know where your limbs are without looking at them (proprioception) or the ability to sense true vertical.
What types of conditions can be helped with physical therapy?
There are numerous neurological disorders that physical therapists see in a post-acute setting with the goal of improving function for increased participation and independence with daily activities. These conditions include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Spina bifida
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Stroke
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cauda equina syndrome
- Parkinson’s disease
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome
- Bell’s palsy
How are these conditions treated?
The goal of physical therapy is usually not to eliminate the neurological disorder but to increase your ability to manage the symptoms. One of the main specialties of physical therapy is helping people to walk more independently.
At Body Gears, we complete a full review of how you function on a day-to-day basis, investigating everything from basic range of motion to highly specific motor control aspects. A complete postural assessment will be performed in any position that you need to be able to get into for your daily activities. Then, your walking pattern will be thoroughly analyzed in order to identify inefficiencies and the key structures that need to be addressed. With this analysis, our physical therapists will clearly pinpoint your specific joint, soft tissue, neural, or visceral dysfunctions in order to formulate a manual therapy and exercise program. Whether you have a mechanical, neuromuscular, or motor control problem or all of the above, your treatment plan will be individualized to you.
Request Free Consult or Contact Us Today at Chicago Lincoln Park, Oak Brook, Oak Park, & Winnetka, IL Centers to learn more about how we can help you get back enjoying a more independent life.