This is a guest post by Chris Wynne from our partners at The Rehab Physio in the Wirral. Their excellent facilities provide intensive physical rehabilitation services and in this post, Chris explains something of their philosophy.

Neurological physiotherapy acknowledges a simple fact: the human body is an amazing thing with the ability to adapt to the changes we put upon it.

With the right physiotherapy skills, technology and techniques, we can help the body to find ways to help patients with a range of neurological conditions including spinal cord injury, stroke, brain injury and Cerebral Palsy to restore function, independence and quality of life.

Are you dealing with a neurological condition that requires rehabilitation? You may have heard about electrical stimulation, sometimes known as FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) or electrotherapy, before. If so, you might be wondering why it is often used in rehabilitation and whether it is right for your specific situation.

In this article, we are going to explore the concept of electrical stimulation and what its use in physical therapy offers in particular for individuals recovering from neurological conditions. Read on to learn more about how electrical stimulation works and how it can help speed up recovery and improve function after an injury or neurological condition.

Of all the products that assist people with a disability, wheelchairs seem to cause the most difficulty and confusion. There are so many options and variations that many people finish up with something that doesn't serve them all that well.

Standing mobility devices are an option that can transform the lives of individuals with mobility challenges in the UK, offering a newfound sense of freedom, independence, and well-being.

When choosing a standing mobility device - a Tek RMD or a standing wheelchair, you need to carefully consider suitability. There are no perfect products for all people and all situations.

In this article, we will showcase the Tek RMD amongst the spectrum of standing wheelchairs and standing devices, exploring their benefits, features, and the impact they have on the lives of those who rely on them. From enhanced accessibility to increased social interaction, the possibilities are endless when it comes to unlocking a newfound sense of freedom and empowerment.

This is a question that we are often asked. The short answer is yes, you can walk in a PRAFO (Pressure Relief Ankle Foot Orthosis). The PRAFO is an orthotic device family that is designed to provide complete relief from pressure or shear at the vulnerable heel area whether the user is in bed or walking around. Pressure ulcers represent a big problem for the NHS and protection from pressure and shear is key to prevention, or when things go wrong, to accelerate healing.

However, each PRAFO in the range offers much more than pressure relief though and this is essential to facilitate continuity of care. Continuity of care is an important part of the rehabilitation process and that is why our PRAFOs are designed so that the user can walk in them. If a product allows pressure protection but does not support the next step in the rehabilitation process then a different product would be required which necessitates further cost and inefficiency.

The short answer to the question is yes it can. Although there is a lot of research literature on the topic, it is reasonable to suggest that the application of electrical stimulation to help resolve chronic wounds is not that well understood or widely practised yet.

There are a variety of different approaches and there is perhaps no optimal approach that has yet been identified. As a consequence, the evidence supporting electrical stimulation for wound healing is always muted due to the variety of protocols that have been used.

Perhaps the approach with the longest use is High Voltage Pulsed Current (HVPC) which dates back to the 1940s. In this article, we will take a look at the nature of wounds, the rationale behind electrical stimulation for wound healing and look at some of the approaches that have been taken.

At Anatomical Concepts, we are getting to grips with the Carbonhand again, so we have been delving into the research literature and sorting through the significant, curious and sometimes serious, facts to do with grip strength and human function. We don’t often write about Dementia but it is one of the conditions that shortens lives and seriously affects healthspan so we certainly don’t doubt it’s importance as a topic.

In Dr Peter Attia's excellent book, "Outlive", he mentions a recent study (by Irene Esteban-Cornejo et al, 2022) looking at nearly half a million patients in the UK which found that grip strength, which is strongly correlated with overall strength and indeed lifespan, was inversely associated with the incidence of dementia. These are findings are from the UK Biobank prospective cohort study.

People with the weakest grip had a 72% higher incidence of dementia compared to those in the top quartile for grip strength (the strongest).

What do we make of this?