Neurological Physiotherapy in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is neurological physiotherapy?
Neurological physiotherapy is physiotherapy for movement problems that start in the nervous system rather than in a muscle or joint. When the brain, spinal cord or nerves carry signals less reliably, movements can become slow, small, stiff, weak, shaky or poorly coordinated. Neurological physiotherapy teaches strategies and exercises that work around these changes and keep the body as strong and mobile as possible.
Many neurological conditions are long-term and change over time. Neurological physiotherapy is therefore often an ongoing partnership, with blocks of treatment when needs change and a home programme in between, rather than a single short course.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, neurological physiotherapy is provided by the hospital's physical therapists within the physiotherapy department, alongside the neurologist who manages the condition medically. Recovery after a stroke has its own dedicated page, stroke rehabilitation.
Who needs it
Neurological physiotherapy helps people with conditions such as:
- Parkinson's disease, with slowness, shuffling, freezing or stooped posture
- Multiple sclerosis, with weakness, stiffness, balance problems or fatigue
- Peripheral neuropathy, including diabetic neuropathy with reduced feeling in the feet
- Guillain-Barré syndrome during recovery
- Spinal cord conditions affecting walking or leg control
- Head injury once the person is medically stable
- Motor neurone disease and other progressive conditions, where the aim is comfort and independence
It is useful at diagnosis, to set a baseline and start good habits, and at any point when walking, balance, falls, stiffness or tiredness change.
What happens
The physical therapist starts with your condition, your medicines and their timing, and the activities that have become harder. The examination covers strength, muscle tone, coordination, feeling, posture, balance, walking and how you turn, rise from a chair and get in and out of bed. Tiredness and heat sensitivity are asked about too, as they shape the plan.
Treatment is then tailored to the condition. Examples show how different the approaches are:
- Parkinson's disease: large, deliberate movements that counter the tendency for steps and gestures to shrink; external cues such as counting, a rhythm or stepping over a line on the floor to overcome freezing; turning in a wide arc; and posture exercises to open the chest.
- Multiple sclerosis: strength and balance work planned around energy, with activity and rest paced across the day; cooling strategies, since a rise in body temperature can temporarily bring out symptoms; and stretching for stiff muscles.
- Neuropathy: balance training that relies more on vision and the hips when the feet send weaker signals; ankle and calf strength; and daily foot checks, since reduced feeling can let a blister or cut go unnoticed.
Across all conditions, the programme includes practical skills: getting up from the floor, safe transfers, the right walking aid, and exercises you can keep doing at home. Sessions are timed to suit your medicines where that matters, for example when Parkinson's tablets are working well.
Preparing for it
- Bring clinic letters and a list of your medicines with the times you take them.
- Note when symptoms are better or worse through the day.
- Wear loose clothing and supportive shoes.
- Bring any walking aid, splint or support you use.
- Bring a family member if they help you at home or with exercises.
Afterwards
Regular exercise is one of the most useful things a person with a neurological condition can do, and a programme that fits your week is the one that lasts. Short, frequent sessions suit people who tire easily. Group or family exercise keeps motivation up.
Heat matters in the UAE, especially with multiple sclerosis. Exercise in air-conditioned rooms or early in the morning, drink cool water, and use cooling towels on hot days. During Ramadan, time exercise for after iftar and discuss medicine timing with your neurologist. The physical therapist at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah reviews the programme whenever your needs change.
Contact the hospital if walking, balance or strength worsen over days or weeks, or if falls become more frequent. Go to the emergency department straight away with sudden weakness, sudden loss of vision, slurred speech, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
Cost and insurance
Many UAE insurance plans cover neurological physiotherapy with a referral from a neurologist, usually with pre-approval. Session caps can be limiting for long-term conditions, so blocks of treatment are often planned around the annual allowance. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm cover on 06 599 7777.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What are the risks of neurological physiotherapy?
Neurological physiotherapy is safe, and the main risks are a stumble during balance practice and tiredness after sessions. Overdoing exercise can worsen fatigue in conditions such as multiple sclerosis, so the plan is paced. Physiotherapy manages symptoms and function but cannot cure or stop a progressive neurological condition.
Can physiotherapy slow Parkinson's disease?
Physiotherapy cannot stop Parkinson's disease, but regular exercise helps maintain walking, balance, flexibility and independence. Specific strategies such as large movements and rhythmic cues help with shuffling and freezing.
Is exercise safe with multiple sclerosis?
Exercise is safe and helpful for most people with multiple sclerosis when it is paced and kept cool. Symptoms may flare briefly with heat or effort and settle with rest and cooling; your physical therapist helps you find the right level.
How does neurological physiotherapy help neuropathy?
Neurological physiotherapy helps neuropathy by training balance, strengthening the ankles and calves, and teaching foot care. These reduce falls and injuries when the feet send weaker signals to the brain.
How often do I need neurological physiotherapy?
Neurological physiotherapy is often given in blocks of sessions when needs change, with a home programme between blocks. The physical therapist recommends a pattern that suits your condition and goals.
What is freezing in Parkinson's disease, and can physiotherapy help?
Freezing is a sudden, brief inability to step, as if the feet are stuck, often at doorways or when turning. Physiotherapy teaches cues such as counting, a rhythm or stepping over a line that help many people start moving again.
Do I need a referral for neurological physiotherapy?
You can book neurological physiotherapy directly, but many UAE insurance plans need a referral from a neurologist and pre-approval before they cover sessions. Bringing your neurologist's letter also helps the physical therapist plan safely.
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