Physical Therapy
Aspects of physical medicine are employed in the Neurology Centre as treatment for accompanying orthopaedic issues. They include muscle-relaxing techniques such as Fango mud packs, massage, and water-jet (Jacuzzi) baths.
Patients whose neurological disorders are accompanied by orthopaedic symptoms have access to a full repertoire of physical medicine. This is especially important for patients who have developed chronic pain as a result of their neurological condition (e.g. hemiparetic patients with a painful shoulder or algodystrophy of the hand), or who experience pain as a primary symptom of their neurological disease (e.g. polyneuropathy with extensive dysaesthesia or paraesthesia). Treatments range from application of heat and cold to electro-therapy. In particular, patients with general paresis of the upper extremities often require prophylaxis such as lymph drainage in cases of algodystrophy of the hand. Along with the operative therapeutic measures they support, these measures form a core component of the rehabilitation programme for complex structures such as the arm and hand.
Other treatments provided by the physical department include conventional electro-stimulation, and in particular EMG-triggered electro-stimulation. Where appropriate, patients can even be trained to self-administer EMG-triggered electro-stimulation as part of their home treatment regimen.
