Neuro-specialist AHP's Flashcards
What are the aims of neuro rehab ?
- Improve function
- Reduce symptoms
- Enable people to gain (partial / full) independence in ADL
- Optimise wellbeing and QoL
What are the main neuro-AHP’s?
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Speech & Language Therapy
- Dietetics
- Orthotics
- Art / Music Therapy
What do neuro OT’s do ?
Their aim is to optimise independence & enable participation, no matter what form that may take.
What they do:
- Assess cognitive function
- Assess ability to carry out ADL
- Patient-centred interventions => enable goal achievement
- Advice & emotional support to individuals and carers
- Home / work assessments
- Provision of equipment & environmental adaptations
What do neuro physiotherapists do ?
Their aim is to maximise physical function by implementing approaches to re-learn or re-establish movement patterns.
They do this by:
- Targeted muscle group exercises
- Joint mobilisations
- Balance exercises
- Movement education
- Advice (lifestyle & fatigue mgt)
- Exercise classes
- Electrical stimulation
- Acupuncture
What do neuro SLT’s do ?
Their aim is to help overcome issues with eating, drinking & swallowing, and help those with difficulty speaking or using language to communicate.
They do this by:
- Assess speech / swallowing needs
- Review and manage safety & efficiency of swallowing
- Teach strategies to optimise speech intelligibility
- Provide techniques & aids to improve communication, e.g. AAC (Augmentative and alternative communication)
What do neuro dietitians do ?
Their aim is to optimise nutritional status through assessment, monitoring & review of dietary needs & intake, to positively impact on overall neuro rehab goals.
They do this by:
- Assess nutritional state & feeding methods
- Advise on best food choices / special diets
- Assist decision-making on gastrostomy
- Practical solutions to ease food prep & physical eating & drinking difficulties
What do orthotists do ?
Their aim is to maximise safety, mobility & recovery, and minimise need for long-term care by preventing secondary complications.
They do this by:
- Joint assessment with other AHPs
- Manufacture & fit orthoses to stabilise /challenge stability
- Optimise alignment (e.g. in stance to aid gait)
- Review & adjust orthoses in relation to disease progression
What do music therapists do ?
Their aim is to use music therapy techniques to target deficits arising from acquired & neurodegenerative conditions, and help secondary impact of deficits on mental health.
They do this by:
- Carry out assessment of patient needs
- Implement standardised research-based techniques
- Work alongside other rehab AHPs to provide individual or group programmes
