Neurological disorders we commonly treat with Physical Therapy:

Neurological physical therapy focuses on working with individuals who have a neurological disorder or disease. These may include Alzheimer's disease, ALS, brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke. Common problems of patients with neurological disorders include paralysis, vision impairment, poor balance, inability to ambulate, and loss of functional independence. Below are a few of the many types of neurological disorders that our therapists treat.

• Stroke - Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it starts to die. Our physical therapists have helped many stroke survivors to maximize their chances of recovery, and in most cases, regain a substantial portion of the functions they lost as a result of their stroke.
• Guillain-Barre' Syndrome - Guillain-Barre' Syndrome is a rare nervous system disorder that results from nerve damage caused by the body's own immune system, usually in response to an infection or other illness. GBS causes muscle weakness, loss of reflexes, and numbness or tingling in the arms, legs, face, and other parts of the body. Physical therapy will stimulate muscles and joints through various physical movement and exercises. It will also rebuild strength, flexibility and greatly improve range of motion.
• Parkinson's Disease - Parkinson's disease (PD) belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, which are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. The four primary symptoms of PD are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination. As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. The goal of physical therapy is to improve your independence and quality of life by improving movement and function and relieving pain.
• Sciatica - is a general term for pain along the sciatic nerve. It is usually a sharp pain is sometimes described as an electrical-like shock starting in the buttock that travels down the back of thigh and leg. The most common cause is a herniated disc in your back, although there are other causes as well.

• Spinal Stenosis - Spinal Stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, which places pressure on the spinal cord. While spinal stenosis can be found in any part of the spine, the lumbar and cervical areas are the most commonly affected. Emphasis in physical therapy is placed on strengthening the muscles of the back, stretching these muscles, and improving posture. By better supporting the spine, symptoms of nerve compression are often improved.
• Vestibular Disorder - Vestibular (inner ear) disorders can cause dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, hearing changes, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and other symptoms, with potentially devastating effects on a person's day-to-day functioning, ability to work, relationships with family and friends, and quality of life. The Physical Therapy team at National Physical Therapy offers a Vestibular Rehab Program specifically designed for the treatment of dizziness and imbalance.