Physiotherapy at Intercare Century City

Physiotherapy treatment and rehabilitation is available to you for a variety of medical conditions at our out-patient practice within Intercare Century City.

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For enquiries and appointments contact:
087 236 6518 
info@hnaphysiotherapy.co.za

Address: Cnr Century Way & Park Ln Building 5, Central Park on Parklane, Century City, Cape Town, 7441

 

Some of the services we offer at our practice:

Neurological Rehabilitation

We offer Neuro-rehabilitation for those who have may have had a:

– STROKE,
– BRAIN INJURY,
– BRAIN TUMOR,
– SPINAL CORD INJURY, or who have been diagnosed with:
– MOVEMENT-RELATED DISORDERS such as
– PARKINSON’S DISEASE,
– MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS,
– GUILLIAN BARRE and other DEMYLINATING POLYNEUROPATHIES.

Neuro-rehabilitation requires expertise and manual skills that promote NORMAL movement patterns. All of our therapists have backgrounds in providing intensive neuro-rehab to such patients. Our passion is to provide our client tactile cues that retrain their brain to control their affected extremities much in the same way they did prior to their injury. We believe that in order for you to return to living the life you want, it is important to retrain your body to function as it did before your injury. This can lead to decreased time in therapy as you will not have to unlearn bad habits. The goal is to bring each patient to his or her highest level of functional independence and to be able to remain in their home environment.

HOW MUCH THERAPY WILL I NEED?

This will depend on your specific injury, your level of independence prior to your injury, any other medical conditions you may also have, your family support and your motivation.
Each treatment session and plan of care is specific to each person.
In general, 2-3 times per week for a minimum of 8-12 weeks is recommended. In some cases, you may need maintenance therapy a couple times per year.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT ON MY FIRST VISIT?

You will have the same expert therapist working with you on every visit. On the day of evaluation, your therapist will conduct an in-depth examination that may include all or some of the following:

• Strength testing
• Perceptual testing (how you see your body in space)
• Memory and cognition testing
• Speech and hearing testing
• Vision testing
• Sensation testing (can you feel light touch, pain, whether your limb is moving)
• Range of motion of your joints
• Pain
• Reflexes and involuntary movements, muscle spasms
• Balance and coordination testing
• Functional movement testing (can you get dressed, can you stand up from a chair, bathe yourself, etc.)
• Gait/walking ability, stair climbing ability
• Wheelchair mobility
• Caregiver’s ability to help you at home

Based on the results of your examination, we will customize a treatment plan of care for you. Your family and/or caregiver will always be welcome and will be included in the treatment plan, as we want to be sure that they can safely assist you as needed.
Treatment may include some or all of the following:

Physiotherapy

• Gait training to promote improved skills for walking
• Use of motor learning devices
• Balance training (fall risk reduction)
• Transfer training (sit to stand, wheelchair to bed or chair, floor to stand)
• Training with equipment for increased independence with mobility
• Joint range of motion, strengthening and endurance
• Orthotics management
• Pool therapy
• Patient and family education
• Caregiver training

Other therapies that you may need:

Occupational Therapy

• Strengthening and range of motion (more focus on the arm and hand)
• Coordination training
• Self-care skills training (activities of daily living), including: dressing, bathing, toileting, self-feeding
• Home management, leisure and work skills training
• Functional cognitive/safety training
• Adaptive equipment for self-care and home management
• Low vision training
• Patient and family education
• Caregiver education

Speech Therapy

• Articulation and voice improvement
• Aphasia/Language therapy
• Cognitive retraining for memory and attention as well as organizing and planning
• Computer aided speech or alternative non-vocal communication
• Swallowing therapy
• Patient and family education
• Caregiver education

 

Balance and Fall prevention therapy

Fall Prevention
Falls can diminish your ability to lead an active and independent life. About one third of people over the age of 65 and almost half of people over the age of 80 will fall at least once this year. There usually are several reasons for a fall. We can help you reduce your risk of falling by:

• Assessing your risk of falling with a thorough assessment using standardized tests
• Helping you make your home as safe as possible
• Educating you about the medical risk factors linked to falls
• Designing individualized exercises and balance training
• Working with other health care professionals and community services to create programs for people who want to reduce their risk of falling

How Can We Help?
If you are worried about falling or if you recently had a fall, we can conduct a brief check (“screening”) of your fall risk. If the screening shows that you are at risk, we will perform a thorough evaluation, including:

• A review of your medical history
• A review of your medications
• A simple vision test
• A home safety assessment
• A simple screen of your thinking abilities
• A check of your heart rate
• Blood pressure measurements while you change positions (from sitting to standing)
• Feet and footwear assessment
• Assessment of any nervous system disorders, such as stroke or Parkinson’s disease
  We also will:
• Measure your leg strength, using simple tests such as timing how long it takes you to stand from a chair
• Determine how quickly and steadily you walk
• Assess your balance – for instance, by having you stand on one leg or rise from a chair and walk
• Use special tests to measure your balance

Based on the evaluation results, your physiotherapist will design an exercise and training program to improve your balance and strength. A recent systematic review of many published studies found that exercise-based programs in the home or in group settings are effective in preventing falls. These programs are especially effective when balance exercises are performed in a standing position without using much arm support.

Balance Training
Balance training has been shown to be an important and effective part of falls prevention. We will design exercises that challenge your ability to keep your balance, including exercises such as single-leg standing.

Balance and Vestibular therapy

We evaluate and treat dizziness and balance problems that may be caused by any of the following:

• BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)
• Unilateral Vestibular Loss following an inner ear infection, acoustic neuroma
• Bilateral Vestibular Loss following exposure to gentamicin, chemotherapy, and other ototoxic substances
• Movement related instability, dizziness, intolerance
• Migraine Associated Vertigo / Vestibular Migraines
• Post-Concussion Syndrome
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Mal De debarquement Syndrome
• Meniere’s Disease / Endolymphatic Hydrops
• Cervicogenic Dizziness
• Visio-spatial Disorientation
• Post-Stroke
• Vestibular loss due to age
• Imbalance due to peripheral neuropathyYour symptoms may include:
• Dizziness or blurry vision with head movements
• Neck tightness, stiffness and/or pain
• Imbalance or the need to hold onto objects when walking
• Headaches
• Frequent falls
• Generalized “dizziness, wooziness and foggy head” feelings
• Vertigo / spinning
  
  Treatment for your balance and/or vestibular disorder may include the following:
• Vision exercises
• Standing balance exercises
• Posture training
• Strengthening exercises
• Walking training
• Neck range of motion exercises
• Manual therapy for the neck
• Sensation training
• Repositioning manoeuvres (for those with BPPV – Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)

Your treatment plan will be customized for you based on your exam findings. Typical outcomes following vestibular rehabilitation include: decreased fall risk, decreased symptoms of dizziness, improved balance, improved ability to stabilize your vision, increased strength, increased independence with functional mobility, increased confidence when walking in the community, improved neck movement and decreased pain.

WHAT CAUSES DIZZINESS?
Dizziness is the most common complaint of patients over the age of 75, but can occur in patients of any age. Dizziness is generally not serious, but is often a sign of a mechanical problem. Dizziness can be due to an inner ear disorder, a side effect of medications, a sign of neck dysfunction, or it can be due to a more serious problem such as a brain or a heart problem. It is important to rule out these more serious problems with your physician.

HOW LONG SHOULD I EXPECT TO BE IN VESTIBULAR THERAPY?
Some patients may be seen for only 1 to 2 sessions; other patients may need continued treatment for a few months. Your physiotherapist will make a treatment plan customized to your needs based on your examination findings.

Maintenance and Wellness Programs

People are living longer than ever these days. Many people are admitted to assisted living or nursing home facilities due to multiple falls at home and/or impaired mobility. Our aim is to keep your loved one in their home as long as possible and living independently. This provides a much higher quality of life and is much more cost effective than living in a facility.
Many people living with progressive neurological disorders have periodic exacerbations and setbacks that impair their mobility. These individuals will benefit from maintenance programs to slow the progression of their neurological deficits. Periodic assessment of mobility will also allow for timely prescription of any necessary equipment such as a walker, power wheelchair, bath aid equipment, etc.