MS (Multiple Sclerosis) – What is it?
How common is MS? The 30th of May is World MS day. Like me, you may have grown up doing the MS read-a-thon, or have heard of the disease Multiple Sclerosis. It’s estimated that 2.8 million people around the world have MS, with worldwide data suggesting there has been an increase in the number of … Read more
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
May is a month to raise awareness for Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIPD). What is Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy CIPD is similar to Guillain-Barre Syndrome but can last for longer periods of time. It is a progressive disease where the bodies immune system attacks itself. The nerves that branch out from the brain and the … Read more
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
May is Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy awareness month so the next two blogs will be discussing these conditions. Let’s start with GBS or Guillain-Barre Syndrome. What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome GBS is a rare lower motor neuron disorder where your body’s immune system, which usually only attacks invading organisms, mistakenly attacks your … Read more
Electrical Stimulation – A Useful Tool
What is Electrical Stimulation or E-Stim? Electrical stimulation (commonly referred to as E-stim) is assistive technology that uses an electrical current to move weak or paralysed muscles. You will feel tingling in your skin and muscles, but it is not painful. Electrodes placed on the skin receive electrical signals from a small unit. This then … Read more
What is an Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO)
What is an AFO and how does it work? An Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) is a type of foot splint. It assists in keeping the leg stable by helping with correct alignment of the ankle. For example, some people have trouble keeping their ankle bent when they walk, which can lead them to trip over … Read more
Post-Concussion Syndrome
What is post-concussion syndrome? A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury. It occurs following trauma to the head and causes your brain to move slightly within the skull. Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is a collection of symptoms which may occur after a concussion. Not everyone who experiences a concussion will experience PCS, in fact most … Read more
Aquatic Physiotherapy for Stroke Rehabilitation
What is aquatic hydrotherapy? Aquatic physiotherapy for stroke is popular, but what exactly is it? In aquatic physiotherapy you will do exercises in the pool under the guidance of your physiotherapist. The properties of water including buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, viscosity, and thermodynamics have been shown to provide a therapeutic environment to help reduce pain, increase … Read more
Physiotherapy for Parkinson’s Disease
What is Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s Disease is a movement disorder caused by damage to the nerve cells that produce dopamine, a chemical that helps the body coordinate movement. Parkinson’s impacts an estimated 100,000 in Australia, with 38 people being diagnosed every day. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease and symptoms slowly develop and progress over … Read more