Welcome to the Spring edition of our newsletter. Here you will find the latest news and what's coming soon to PhysioFunction. 

AXON DRUG-FREE CHRONIC PAIN THERAPY

A Revolution in Pain Management

PhysioFunction are the UK's exclusive supplier of Axon Drug-Free Chronic Pain Therapy. A revolution in pain management.

How it works: Chronic pain is a pervasive and challenging condition which affects millions of individuals worldwide, often diminishing their quality of life.

Just as other parts of our bodies can be trained, such as our muscles, our brain can also be trained to change the way it functions. One of the ways to do this is through a method of Operant Conditioning.

Neurofeedback is a treatment that uses operant conditioning to reinforce patterns of brain activity associated with less pain. This is done by playing simple “games” that use audio and visual feedback to provide positive reinforcement when the desired patterns are produced by your brain.

Repeated sessions of neurofeedback can result in long lasting changes in the structure and function of your brain, in a process known as neuroplasticity. Over time, your brain learns to function in this state automatically. People can learn to respond differently to the nerve signals their brain interprets as pain – in essence, “retraining” their brains.

These neuroplastic changes can positively affect your perception of pain, which in turn can improve your sleep, mood and the quality of your life.

Axon involves you wearing Axon – a custom-designed EEG headset that passively reads the electrical activity associated with pain in your brain.

This electrical activity is transmitted wirelessly to an app downloaded onto a tablet or other mobile device and is visually represented on the screen via neurological exercises (in the form of simple animated games) undertaken by you.

Through real-time visual feedback, you can learn to neuromodulate how your brain interprets pain signals, thereby reducing the pain. By using Axon on a regular basis (about 31-35 minutes per day) over the course of several weeks, you can learn how to ‘retrain’ how your brain perceives and responds to pain.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Neurological Physiotherapy

Sam sustained a Spinal cord injury after falling off a horse about a year ago, leaving her with upper and lower limb weakness. Sam has been coming to PhysioFunction for the past 4 months.

Sam wants to regain as much independence as possible through rehabilitation working on upper limb and lower limb function.

In weekly clinic sessions Sam utilises our Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) bike that provides targeted muscle and nerve stimulation to her legs and arms helping to regain muscle mass and nerve innervation lost due to her injury.  Sam also has separate clinic sessions focused on active muscle work of the core, lower limbs and upper limbs with support from our Neurological Physiotherapists aiming to improve strength and function throughout the whole body.

Due to Sam's incredible motivation and highly supportive family she has seen some amazing improvements in a incredibly short period of time. Sam is now able to transfer from her wheelchair to bed with minimal support from a therapist using a slide board. She is able to stand with minimal support from her family or therapists, showing an amazing improvement in strength and balance.

Occupational Therapy

Sam has been participating in sessions with our student Occupational Therapist for the past 4 weeks to support upper limb function, fine and gross motor skills and increase her independence. Following a standardised assessment of Sam's functional performance in her upper limb, an intervention plan was created to address the challenging areas that limit function in her upper limbs. The sessions are aimed at supporting Sam to re-engage in her valued activities of daily living and achieve her goals. Sam has already achieved one of her goals of being able to grasp and lift a fork to enable her feed herself, and is continuing to improve her performance whilst moving onto her next goal of being able to grasp and lift a glass. Sam's motivation has been paramount to her recovery and she has the potential to achieve more goals to increase her independence. 

CLIENT ACHIEVEMENTS

London Marathon

Huge congratulations to our amazing client, Andy Ibbott, for completing the TCS London Marathon in an impressive 8 hours and 36 minutes! We couldn't be prouder of you, Andy. It's really inspiring to see your determination and resilience in action.

Fourteen years ago, Andy had a severe stroke, and now, seeing him conquer such a monumental challenge is remarkable. The following day, Andy paid us a visit to proudly display his marathon medal, and Keiran worked his magic with a sports massage to aid in his recovery from the gruelling 26.2-mile journey. Andy had been getting weekly sports massages and therapy with Megan leading up to the marathon to ensure his body was ready. 

Andy's efforts have also been making a significant impact beyond the course, as he's raised over £2,800 for Brain Research UK. A heartfelt congratulations to all the participants of the London Marathon — you're all incredible!

CASE MANAGERS

Specialised Neurological Physiotherapy

Enhancing Lives, Maximising Independence

At PhysioFunction, we understand the unique challenges faced by individuals with neurological conditions. Our specialised neurological physiotherapy services are designed to make a difference to the lives of your clients, providing tailored care and promoting lasting progress.

Some Key Features

1.        Expert Neurological Physiotherapists: Our team consists of highly trained and experienced neurological physiotherapists who specialise in addressing the specific needs of clients with neurological conditions.

2.        Individual Treatment Plans: We believe in personalised care. Each client receives a customised treatment plan that focuses on their unique challenges, ensuring targeted and effective interventions.

3.        Cutting-edge Rehabilitation Techniques: Stay ahead with our commitment to utilising the latest in neurological rehabilitation techniques. Our therapists are trained in the most advanced methods to maximise outcomes.

4.        Interdisciplinary Collaboration: We work closely with case managers, consultants and other healthcare professionals to ensure a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to the care of individuals with neurological conditions.

Why Choose PhysioFunction?

·        Proven Success Stories: Our clinic has history of achieving positive outcomes for clients with various neurological conditions, maximising independence and improving quality of life.

·        Timely Progress Reports: Case managers can expect detailed progress reports, allowing for informed decision-making and adjustments to the treatment plan as needed.

·        Focus on Functionality: Our approach goes beyond symptom management; we focus on restoring functionality, enabling clients to participate more fully in their daily lives.

For more information or to discuss the needs of your client, please contact Harriet on 01327 842321.

COMING SOON...

SKILLS EXCHANGE

We're thrilled to announce an exciting Skills Exchange event, The Neurological Upper Limb, held in collaboration with Physio First. Join us at our clinic in Spratton, Northamptonshire, on Saturday, May 18th, 2024, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. This program is designed to provide hands-on skill-sharing opportunities for all HCPC registered physiotherapists.

Whether you're looking to refine existing techniques, discover new ones, or share your own tips and insights, this event is for you. It caters to HCPC registered physiotherapists at all levels. 

For students interested in attending, please contact Physio First for registration details. Sessions are completely free, and we welcome physiotherapists of all levels to join us. Secure your spot by booking through the Physio First website. Click the button below to register now!

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