As physiotherapists we often work with people diagnosed with Parkinson’s, our goal is to help you improve your movement, stability and manage a wide range of symptoms that can be associated with the condition.

We strongly recommend seeing a physiotherapist as soon as you are diagnosed, although you may not have many symptoms we can help to educate you on the best way to exercise and the most effective types of exercise. We can also signpost you to specialist classes and community groups, many people find the community support really beneficial.

You may have heard of PD Warrior, it is an exercise based concept that has recorded some excellent results and is now widely recommended as a gold standard of treatment in conjunction with medical management. Exercise really is the best medicine in this case! For more information on PD Warrior please follow this link to the website.

Other ways you can access support is through your local PD Specialist Practitioner, which you should be referred to upon diagnosis. They can help to review medication and signpost you to exercise classes and other services such as speech and language therapy, singing/voice classes and support networks. To find out about local support in your area visit this website.

At Foundations Physio we believe prevention is better than cure, we can help you to manage certain risk factors associated with stroke such as weight, diabetes, heart conditions and smoking. As a healthcare service we can support and advise of the best way to do this, whether that be through diet and exercise or onward referral to other services including; exercise on prescription, smoking cessation clinics and weight management advice, all of which are accessible via your GP.
If you or your family member has had a stroke, physiotherapy is certainly something that can help you on your journey to recovery. During your assessment we will complete a thorough physical review as well as having a detailed chat about the challenges you are facing including your personal goals and aspirations. We work to build on your strengths and work on areas you find more challenging using a variety of exercise techniques, technology and other methods to help you achieve your goals.

Recovery from a stroke is all about creating the right movements and repeating them (a lot)! You will often hear Neuro physiotherapists talking about repetitions and asking you to repeat certain exercises over and over, the good news is we are quite a creative bunch so we do a good job at keeping things interesting!
Whilst seeing a physiotherapist early after a stroke is key, our experience is that, no matter how long ago your stroke may have been, we can always make improvements providing you are committed and dedicated to making them. To quote the Stroke Association – “There is life after stroke”. For more information on stroke services in your area please visit ​this webiste.

Life after brain injury may be different and present challenges for both you and your family. Recovering from a Brain Injury can be a journey and there aren’t often quick fixes, although there are adaptations we can make to help you exercise and become more independent.
Regular exercise is an important part of the recovery process and we would suggest having guidance from a physiotherapist to ensure you are on the right track. After a thorough assessment your Neuro Physio will be able to highlight areas you may need to work on and set up a treatment plan with you specific to your goals, whether they are getting out of a chair or running a marathon we will endeavour to support you.
There is a lot of support out there for those living with Brain Injury both in terms of local support groups and exercise classes to grants for specialist equipment through organisations such as The Brain Injury Group, Headway or The Brain Charity. We can support you with grant applications and signpost you to local services that may help.

If you want to keep active with MS, seeing a specialist physiotherapist can be a great place to start. We can give myth busting advice like:
“Did you know that you shouldn’t avoid exercise that feels tiring, it can actually be great for your health and improve energy levels in the longer term”.
Your physiotherapist will work to provide a tailored program to suit your abilities taking into account your hobbies/interests and focussing on areas you wish to improve. We will work to empower you and build confidence that you can improve your strength/balance/endurance and gain new skills. There is a wealth of information on exercise and MS on the MS Trust website.
It may be you wish to explore attending local exercise classes or support groups, something your physiotherapist or MS Practitioner and help you with. Find out what’s available in your area on the MS Society website.

Although GBS is a rare condition it is something we have extensive experience working with as the impacts of it can initially be significant. After the initial injury the nerves will take time to heal and grow, they change at approximately 1 inch per month, however most people will make a full recovery within a year. As physiotherapists our role is to help encourage nerve changes but also to harness any new activity you may gain, progressing you along your journey to recovery. During this time you may want to access additional support, speaking with the charity GAIN can help and they can advise you on what is available locally.

As we age lots of things change and it may be difficult to adapt as they can mean a loss of independence. At Foundations Physio we believe age is just a number! Our experience is that, with a bit of work and guidance in the right direction anyone can improve their quality of life, whatever age they are. There may of course be medical conditions we cannot change and have to work with, building muscle and improving balance does take longer as we get older, but there is a good body of evidence (including our own experience) to suggest it can be done!
Falls can be a worry for lots of people and their families, this can lead to you moving differently and feeling tense when on your feet, did you know this can actually increase the likelihood of you falling? Our job is to support you to regain that confidence, maybe at the start that might be in the form of a walking aid whilst we work on your balance or strength in order to keep you safer at home.
There is lots of support available, from community mobility schemes, wider support from Age UK , sitting services such as Crossroads or even neighbourhood networks to help with shopping and other jobs. Your physiotherapist or social worker will be able to advise you on what you are able to access in your area.

Having a spinal injury, no matter the severity, can be a life changing event. You may spend a long period in a specialist Spinal Cord Injury Centre such as Stanmore before you come home. At Foundations Physio our role begins when you get home, we look to support you and your family in adapting to being at home and help you to implement an exercise regime that is both challenging and manageable. With specialist knowledge about the effects of SCI we can help to give you the tools to live life the way you want, whether that be accessing a gym, returning to sport or hobbies or spending more time with family and friends.
We will work with you to help adapt and return to activities you enjoyed before the injury and can work with specialist equipment and technology suppliers to find the right solution for you and your family. There is more advice and support available on the Spinal Injuries Association website or from your SIA support worker.

Physiotherapy is often something you may experience at different periods throughout your life, our focus is to help you gain independence, strength and stamina through exercise, specialist advice and the use of technology and adaptive equipment. Your family or care team will be an important part of your journey and we work to include and help them so they feel able to support you in the best way they can. More advice and support can be found here.

People with long term conditions are often disabled by the barriers in society as opposed to their condition, we work to help you remove and overcome these barriers in order to pursue your goals. There are lots of activities available for you to participate in, at any level of ability, you can find out more about local activities in your area here.

MND is not a common condition, with only around 5,000 people in the UK diagnosed, however should you receive a diagnosis it’s important you access support and information from the right professionals. A Neurological Physiotherapist will be able to support you with mobility and access to exercise as well as help to assess any equipment that may be required. The MNDA provides lots of helpful information and booklets to support you and your family and even has a helpline to answer any questions you may have.
Our team will aim to help keep you strong, fit and independent, we will support you and your family to adapt to any changes in circumstance. Whether the change is physical, emotional, social or financial we can offer advice and signpost you in the direction of other professionals who may be able to help.

Transverse Myelitis (TM) is often a single event causing inflammation of the spinal cord, after your hospital stay it is likely you will need to see a Neuro-physiotherapist to continue your recovery. The Transverse Myelitis Society has regular feedback from it’s members suggesting physiotherapy input is crucial in terms of regaining strength and mobility and strongly recommends seeing a Neuro-physiotherapist as soon as you can.
They also offer a bursary scheme to help with the costs of your first two sessions as well as grants for any specialist equipment you may require, you can find more details within the link here.

There are many conditions that can affect your nerves and give rise to a diagnosis of Peripheral Neuropathy. Regardless of the cause, exercise is very important in maintaining and improving the strength in your legs or arms. Seeing a Neuro Physiotherapist can help with things such as improving your mobility, exploring walking aids and other orthotics to help with foot drop and working on your strength or stamina. More information and support can be found here.