A neurological physiotherapy assessment will help determine your current abilities, difficulties and what you want to achieve – this will then inform your treatment plan and ensure it is evidence-based.
Assessments are usually carried out either in an NHS setting or in a private neurological rehabilitation clinic, such as ours. In both instances, a qualified neuro therapist will carry out the assessment.
In this article, we cover where you can get a neurological physiotherapy assessment, what will happen during your assessment, and how to book a neurological physiotherapy assessment.
Where Are You Assessed For Neurological Physiotherapy?
Where you receive neurological rehabilitation will depend on a variety of factors, including the stage of your recovery, whether you have health insurance, or if you need treatment that’s not available to you via the National Health Service.
People seeking neurological physiotherapy are a diverse group of people but will usually include those that have had strokes, have had accidents or illnesses that affect neurological function, or have degenerative conditions of the nervous system.
In most cases, you will be assessed in a clinical setting such as at your local hospital, an outpatient clinic, or a specialist neuro rehab clinic.
What Will Happen During My Assessment?
A neurological assessment is usually very thorough so that your therapist can gather as much information as possible to create a treatment plan. It will usually take between 1-2 hours to complete an assessment, and most places will be happy if you need someone else to attend your assessment with you.
A therapist will start with your current condition and the history of this condition. They will ask you a lot of questions about how the condition affects you, what your main issues are, your recovery so far, and whether you are seeking treatment elsewhere for aspects of this condition. The therapist will ask you what has made you seek treatment, so these will be the things that are currently affecting you the most and affect daily living.
The therapist will also take detailed notes of your past medical history and any other conditions you have that aren’t related to the primary condition that made you seek treatment. This will usually include any family history too. The therapist will also be interested to know what support you currently have and may ask about family, where you live if you work etc.
Next, the therapist will move on to what they can observe. You will be asked to make a range of movements so that the therapist can assess things like your gait, pattern of movement, and posture. They will also be looking out for any involuntary movements, how far limbs extend, and how your balance is. You should also expect your therapist to put their hands on you to check for things like muscle tone or wastage. You will likely be asked questions whilst you move asking you to describe pain or difficulty.
During your assessment, you will likely have your vital signs observed– your respiratory rate, pulse, blood pressure etc. Depending on your condition, you may also have tests to check your cognitive functions.
Remember, assessment will usually be ongoing throughout your treatment. Regular assessments will enable your therapist to compare to your initial visit and see what progress has been made. This also enables treatment to become more dynamic and adapt to your progress and ongoing needs.
How To Prepare For A Neurological Physiotherapy Assessment
You might be nervous before your first neurological physiotherapy assessment but that’s normal and your therapist will do everything they can to put you at ease. There are a few things you can do before your assessment to ensure you are well-prepared.
First, dress in comfortable loose-fitting clothes that will enable your therapist to see your limbs and have access to any parts they may need to see or touch. Shorts and a t-shirt are a good idea but jogging bottoms, yoga pants etc are all suitable.
Sometimes, when we are nervous, we can forget to mention things or any questions we may have so before your assessment, if you can it’s a good idea to write down everything you will need and make sure you have any papers gathered that you want to bring with you. You could write down things like your past medical history, the history of your current condition, what your main concerns are and what you hope to achieve.
It’s natural to have a lot of questions at your assessment too, so feel free to write these down to help you to remember to ask.
Book Your First Neurological Physiotherapy Assessment
If you are receiving treatment via the NHS you will usually receive a letter to schedule your assessment.
If you decide to start your recovery journey with a private neurological physiotherapy clinic like ours you can simply give us a call and get started. Initially, we start with a telephone conversation and will then invite you to our clinic for your full assessment. This lasts around an hour and the goal is to put together a comprehensive treatment plan that you are happy with.
You don’t need to be referred to a clinic like ours and we are happy to liaise with any other professionals involved in your recovery and care.
Get in touch today to start your journey.
