Neurological Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology
Exercise can play a vital role in the management of many different neurological conditions. Engaging with an Exercise Physiologist empowers individuals to maintain their independence and achieve meaningful goals through personalised physical activity. Exercise can be used to target impairments/areas of concerns. Additionally, exercise can be beneficial in reducing risk of developing secondary conditions and preventing further deterioration or progression of conditions.
Some conditions that Exercise Physiology can be beneficial for include:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Stroke
- Brain Injury
- Functional Neurological Disorder
- Cerebral Palsy
- Motor Neuron Disease (MND)
- Muscular Dystrophy (eg. Fascio-Scapulo-Humeral Dystrophy, Duchene’s Muscular Dystrophy)
Some of the benefits of exercise include:
- Slow degeneration of progressive conditions (eg. MS, Parkinson’s)
- Improve strength
- Improve balance and reduce falls risk
- Improve mobility & assist ease of floor transfers
- Promote cardiovascular health
- Reduce deconditioning
Various types of exercise are important for the management of different neurological conditions. These include resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, balance training, power training and functional exercises.
More information:
Multiple Sclerosis:
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative condition affecting the brain and spinal cord, causing symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, sensory issues, balance difficulties, and reduced coordination. Exercise plays a crucial role in managing MS, with Exercise Physiologists tailoring programs that include balance, strength, cardiovascular, and functional training to address individual challenges. This targeted exercise helps reduce symptoms, improve independence, and support overall condition management.
Parkinson’s Disease:
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder that impairs movement due to reduced dopamine production, causing symptoms like tremors, rigidity, slowness, and balance issues, along with cognitive and mood changes. Exercise is essential for managing PD, as tailored programs by an Exercise Physiologist can improve posture, gait, mental wellbeing, reduce fall risk, and help maintain independence while slowing disease progression.
Stroke:
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or interrupted by bleeding, causing symptoms like weakness, fatigue, balance issues, cognitive challenges, and speech difficulties. Exercise physiology plays a key role in stroke rehabilitation by improving strength, balance, cognition, and independence, while reducing fall risk and lowering the chance of recurrent strokes and other co-morbidities through tailored exercise programs.
Brain Injury:
Acquired and traumatic brain injuries can cause physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges such as muscle weakness, balance issues, impaired memory, and fatigue. Exercise physiology supports rehabilitation by providing safe, personalised programs that improve strength, mobility, independence, cardiovascular health, and quality of life while reducing fall risk and secondary conditions.
Functional Neurological Disorder:
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) disrupts brain signals, causing symptoms like muscle weakness, gait changes, tremors, fatigue, and sensory issues that vary between individuals and impact daily life. Exercise physiology supports FND management by providing safe, personalised movement strategies that boost confidence, improve function, manage symptoms, and enhance endurance, mobility, and overall wellbeing.
Cerebral Palsy:
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a non-progressive developmental movement and posture disorder present from birth, affecting muscle tone, coordination, balance, and posture. Exercise physiology helps manage CP by improving strength, mobility, balance, and endurance, enhancing independence, reducing fall risk, and lowering the chance of comorbidities.
Motor Neuron Disease:
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurological condition that causes muscle weakness, loss of mobility, and difficulties with speech and swallowing. Working with an Exercise Physiologist can help by providing tailored, gentle exercise programs aimed at maintaining strength, mobility, and function for as long as possible, improving quality of life and supporting independence.
Muscular Dystrophies:
Muscular dystrophies are genetic disorders causing progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, leading to mobility issues, fatigue, joint contractures, and reduced independence. Exercise is key to managing these symptoms by maintaining strength, mobility, and cardiovascular fitness safely. Tailored programs from an Exercise Physiologist help slow muscle loss, manage fatigue, improve movement and joint health, and reduce the risk of secondary conditions.
