Finding a neurological physiotherapist

If you would like to see a private neurological physiotherapist to help in your stroke rehabilitation, you have various options.

If you live in the south-east of England, you might like to consider heads up!, the sponsors of this website. We hold clinics at our practice outside Dorking, Surrey as well as at Kingston, Roehampton and Sevenoaks. Our website is at www.headsup.co.uk.

Searchable databases of physiotherapists with an interest in neurological physiotherapy are held by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists and the Organisation of Chartered Physiotherapists in Private Practice (OCPPP). If you follow the links below, you will be given a list of relevant physiotherapists in your area.

Chartered Society of Physiotherapists - click on the link and then enter the county or postcode where you would like to find a physiotherapist as well as choosing the 'Neurology/Neuro-surgery' in the 'Special Area of Practice' category.

OCPPP - click on the link and then click on the 'Find a Physio' button. You should then enter the town, county or postcode where you would like to find a physiotherapist as well as choosing 'Adult Neurology' in the 'Area of Practice' category.

The names of the physiotherapists that come up will have different levels of expertise and experience. Below are some questions you might like to ask when deciding on the most suitable physiotherapist.

Specialisation - do you only see neurological patients? Physiotherapists who specialise in neurological physiotherapy are likely to have more experience in treating stroke patients.

Bobath training - have you had any Bobath training and, if so, what level have you reached? Bobath is the most common and respected method of neurological rehabilitation in the UK. There are three levels of training:

• an introductory course in normal movement
• a 3-week course, including a project on strokes
• a week-long advanced Bobath course, which can only be taken a year after the second course.

Only on completion of all these levels can a physiotherapist use the designation 'Bobath-trained'.

Years of treatment - how long have you been involved in treating stroke patients?

Ongoing training - how many days' training in neurological physiotherapy do you do each year? It is obviously important to keep up with recent professional developments and a minimum of about 5 days should be expected.

Back to top