Physiotherapist assistance?

[Sparkie44]

Hi everyone, has any fellow sufferer used a physiotherapist to help them walk, and improve movement ? I'm interested to know if it was helpful for them. I live in West London so would be good know if there are any good physio's in this general area.

[Sun-flowerwearer]

hello Sparkie44

It’s difficult to assess stages of PSP but my husband has only recently been diagnosed and although his speech and swallowing is severely compromised and he needs help with many things he can walk and stand unaided. He has been seeing a physio for an hour every two weeks since January and he feels it is beneficial. It’s very tiring for him and he will sleep for several hours afterwards but they do spend time on balance exercises and he feels it helps. We go to the physio clinic for sessions. It’s also somewhere to go that is different to sitting at home.

The NHS physio visited the other day with an OT to look at our living arrangements and offer up ideas on best practice at home. I liked how she assessed my husband from head to toe and then gave him some simple exercises to do at home using chairs. She said he was to try and do as much as possible himself for as long as possible to maintain mobility.

So to answer the first part of your question in the early/ mid stages of the disease (where I think my husband is at the moment) my husband is finding it helpful but as I say he can walk and stand unaided.

[Sharsuk]

Dear Sparkie44,

My husband has freezing gait and is able to take very few normal steps in between. He goes to physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy sessions. I don't feel there is much improvement but at least it's status quo. My husband is just happy to attend as it gets him out of the house.

He also does chair yoga at home.

[Heady]

my husband attended an exercise class for Parkinson’s, which he loved. I am sure it helped physically, also a huge benefit mentally. After that the young lady use to come to the house once or twice a week right up until he died. She could get him up and walking, doing things that he could never do for me. I am positive it helped him being able to weight bear until the end. Plus it gave him something positive to do, made him feel that he was fighting this evil disease. Can’t recommend this enough!

Sending big hug and much love

Lots of love

Anne

[Tippyleaf]

Dear Sparkie

completely agree with all of the other posts my husband attended an NHS Neuro physio gym weekly for many years and later the gym at the hospice. The aim was to maintain independence/ balance and core strength. We have some steps up to our house and I knew his quality of life would be severely affected if I could not get him out of the house. My husband was still just able to tackle these most days until a week before he died. I am sure the physiotherapy support and encouragement played a major part in maintaining his quality of life

Best wishes Tippy

[Red1990]

More movement the better. My mother had a great team of physical therapists until the pandemic. She and I had also worked out way up walking 2miles a day until I broke my leg. I watched her gait deteriorate fast in just a matter of weeks. All PTs are not the same. Find a PT that is trained in Big or PWR or a Neuro certified PT. Don't limit activity to PT. Do anything you safely can and somewhat enjoy....walking with a family/friend, stationary bike, yoga, barre, Tai chi, weight lifting, Rock Steady Boxing, therapy riding absolutely anything to keep moving is helpful in slowing the symptoms.

[Tweetybird21]

Yes, yes, yes! Use any resources you can get your hands on! The earlier the better so the physio can build up a good rapport with your husband and yourself. Think of them as another ally on the team. Good luck. X

[softiesimon]

As a physio I was able to keep my husband on his feet a lot longer by supporting him in a therapeutic way. That is walking behind him with my hands each side of his pelvis giving him only just enough support but no more. At that stage he was using a walker. It would be helpful for you to have a physio show you techniques to help him appropriately. Every person having this horrible disease presents differently so needs a tailor made programme for their particular difficulties.

Certainly a physio specialising in neuro would be ideal. My specialty was paediatrics and as a lot of that is neuro I was able to adapt.

I do wish you and your husband the very best in what is such a challenging time for both of you.