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Walking is often the number one goal that clients want to improve following stroke. Emphasis is often on the walking pattern or how the walking looks. Optimising the walking pattern after stroke is important to improve walking safety and efficiency, energy conservation and improve overall performance. However an important feature of walking that is often be overlooked is walking speed. Studies have shown that walking speed is reduced by up to 50% following a stroke which limits participation in day to day activities, socialisation and the ability to walk in the community. This can lead to i ..read more

Concussions are classified as a mild traumatic brain injury. The conflicting thing is, is that a concussion is not able to be seen on X-RAY, CT or MRI**. Because of this, many people think they are fine and that it will come right. This is where education around concussion comes in. Yes, many concussions can resolve on their own, but there are many cases where they don't. Although it is classified as "mild", it is very traumatic if you experience dizziness, headaches, nausea, sleep disturbance, fatigue, blurry vision, irritability, anxiety or depression as a result of your injury. Imaging i ..read more

Not one stroke survivor presents the same, yes they may have some similar problems, but each is individual and their rehabilitation needs to be tailored to meet their needs Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy rehab after stroke addresses a broad range of problems, with the primary role to promote positive changes in the brain, to help clients to regain function, mobility, and as much independence and quality of life as possible. We find working with our clients, they can make changes long after their event, and that regular input helps them acheive their goals. What therapy can help with ..read more

We talk about gaze stability A LOT in clinic, so what are we actually talking about!? Gaze stability is our inherent ability to stabilise our visual world. There is a reflex that works between the vestibular system and the visual system, so that our image of the world is not jumpy, jerky or bouncy! What is it? Gaze stability is the ability to stabilise our eyes on a target effectively while our head and body are moving. Think about a camera on a stabiliser - you don't get a jumpy image. Our gaze is the same - it is smooth and stabilised. This is a reflex, called the vestibular-ocular reflex ..read more

March was brain injury awareness month. This is a topic very close to our hearts. When we hear the term 'brain injury" it's easy to imagine something quite severe and traumatic. Often this can be the case....... ......But it's important to realise that a brain injury can also be mild or even non-traumatic like a stroke. Our brains are extremely sensitive, and even a mild head knock can cause a concussion, which is a type of mild brain injury. Any type of brain injury can be a life changing event. You can't always see a brain injury from the outside - very often a brain injury is invisible - b ..read more

With a brain injury, everyday tasks that we could normally do can quickly become overwhelming! Our brain utilises so much energy to try and heal, so when we do daily tasks on top of this, it can drain our energy even more. A common task that those with concussion find overwhelming is going to the SUPERMARKET There are many people, loud kids, beeping noises, background music, bright lights, busy looking shelves and shiny floors. This can easily overload our senses and bring on symptoms, making this task a nightmare to try and navigate. So what are some strategies to help? To minimise light ..read more

We have been posting recently some of the recommendations for exercise in older adults, such as on how to build on strength, power and balance. This week lets talk about improving cardiovascular capacity as we age. Studies show that cardiovascular capacity can improve at any age, even in those with fragility and severe physical deconditioning. Ways in which older adults can work on their aerobic exercise could include things such as walking outside or in their home, treadmill walking, steps ups, sit to stands, stairs, water walking, dancing, or a stationary bike. ​ When starting out, start ..read more

Stroke rehabilitation works on promoting neuroplasticity, the process required to create changes in the brain that lead to improvements in function post- stroke. Don’t expect it to happen overnight. It’s a process which requires weeks to months, often years and a lot of hard work from both the therapist and the client. Its common to get stuck, and feel that progress is too slow or that you have plateaued in our recovery. Here are some tips to help get un-stuck and to make steps to move forward again in your stroke journey: Focus on what you are doing well and where you have made progress ..read more

What is the point of picking up some weights or doing strength training? Strength training not only gets us stronger, but also makes us more sturdy on our feet and can provide the following benefits: Increased confidence with balance Increased mood and self-worth Improved quality of life Injury prevention Improved bone health and bone density, reducing risk of fractures Improved joint mobility as muscle tension reduces Enhanced brain health Reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes Health Ageing and longer life span  Reduce and change sarcopenia (gradual loss of muscle mass, strength ..read more