About
About us
Unlike most physiotherapy providers, we specialise in neurological rehabilitation. To find out more about who we are and what we can do for you, please scroll down or click on the links below.
Who we are
Who are you?
We are a team of specialist neurological rehabilitation practitioners. All of our therapists have extensive experience of neurological rehabilitation and have been involved in the management of a wide range of neurological conditions. They have provided many years of specialist physiotherapy and occupational therapy to their patients, both in the NHS and private sector and all are registered to their professional body.
What do you do?
We provide a full, neurological rehabilitation service. One of our therapists can come and see you in your own home where we will provide a full assessment of your abilities and needs. Together we can work out an individual treatment programme that is specific to your condition and requirements.
We can provide therapy at any stage of a condition:
Acute / relapsing conditions
- Stroke
- Head Injury
- Relapsing/remitting MS
- Following neuro surgery
- Remission following medical treatment for tumours
- Following a fall
- And others…
We will provide you with a course of treatment to optimise your recovery and functional ability. We will also aim to minimise secondary problems such as spasticity, stiffness and weakness.
Progressive or long standing conditions
In progressive or long standing conditions such as MS, spinal cord injury and chronic stroke we can work with you to optimise your strength, maintain flexibility, minimise pain and keep you as independent as possible.
In all stages we can work with other health professionals to participate in management of pain, bladder and bowel functions, pressure care, behaviour/mood issues and swallowing problems.
For further information, please call us on 07535 705168.
Neuro Rehabilitation
What is neurological rehabilitation?
Damage to the brain and/ or nervous system can arise from a variety of causes and can adversely affect:-
Cognitive ability - home management, employment, safety awareness, memory, concentration, processing and planning, skill transfer, understanding a joke or TV advert, emotional control, visual or spatial awareness.
Physical and sensory ability - mobility, strength, balance, co-ordination, dexterity, taste, smell, sense of touch, temperature and body position, speech, breathing, eating and drinking, bladder and bowel control.
Energy levels - fatigue as a result of poor sleep due to poor positioning, pain and worry, or fatigue due to specific conditions can also impact on physical, cognitive and psychological health.
All of these problems overlap and impact on each other. In order to gain a positive outcome in one area, it is essential that the therapist has a good understanding of all areas and how they inter-relate.
Neurological rehabilitation is a complex process which aims to aid recovery from damage to the nervous system and/or enable patients to learn and adapt to new ways of functioning. It also helps patients to live life as independently and comfortably as possible and to maximise quality of life.
Prevention and treatment of secondary problems are in important part of rehabilitation. Examples include:
- weakness and fatigue through lack of use,
- joint and/or muscle injury (contractures/stiffness/spasticity and pain),
- mood problems,
- chest infections,
- constipation and pressure sores.
Meet the team
Hayley Steele
Advanced neurological physiotherapist
Hayley gained her BHSc (hons) degree from Leeds University in 1997. She completed junior rotations in many areas of physiotherapy and then chose to specialise in neurology in 1999. As a senior neurological physiotherapist at North Staffordshire hospital she completed rotations in rehabilitation, acute medical neurology, neurology, neurosurgery and neuro high dependency. During this time she also acted as a steward for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and as a clinical education co-ordinator for Keele University.
Hayley had a change of role in 2003 when she became a discharge co-ordinator for the North Staffs Hospital but in 2004 she returned to physiotherapy as an advanced practitioner in neurological rehabilitation.
Hayley is a Bobath trained therapist, as well as being trained in various other therapies to provide a mixed range of skills designed to meet your needs. Other therapies include acupuncture, saebo, facial rehabilitation, neuro-electrical stimulation (trophic, strengthening and functional orthotic use), lower limb biomechanics, body control pilates and dynamic stability/muscle imbalance. She worked alongside Professor Anthony Ward (International expert on spasticity management) for many years, which provided invaluable experience. She has taught on the European injection technique training course “Botulinum Toxin Type A - For the Treatment of Localised Spasticity” Physical management and Neuroplasticity.
In 2010 Hayley gained a 75% masters module mark in injection therapy at Coventry University and has since injected Botox for spasticity. She has also attended World and European Congresses for Physical and Rehabilitation medicine.
Hayley is a member of The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), Association of Physiotherapists Interested in Neurology (ACPIN), Therapists in MS (TiMS), Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP) and the Special Interest Group for Neurotherapists in Staffordshire (SIGNet).
For further information, please call us on 07535 705168.