Other Conditions

What is a Brain Tumour?

Brain tumours are caused by a growth in cells, which then multiply in an abnormal way. Tumours are given grades depending on how quick their growth is, and the likelihood of regrowth after treatment.

What are the Symptoms of a Brain Tumour?

The symptoms of brain tumours can vary depending on the site of the tumour within the brain. Symptoms can include:

• Headaches
• Vision problems
• Speech and communication problems
• Weakness on one side of the body
• Cognitive problems
• Nausea
• Seizures

At Hobbs Rehabilitation, we offer a variety of services and treatments for brain tumours. We work very closely with NHS colleagues and other appropriate healthcare professionals to provide advice and management of the condition. In some cases, intensive rehabilitation will be the most effective rehabilitation, suitability for this will be discussed with your therapist during the assessment.

Physiotherapy for a Brain Tumour:

• Comprehensive neurological assessment
• Increase muscle strength through strengthening and mobilisation exercises
• Improve balance and mobility through assessment of different seating and mobility aids and postural re-education
• Increase sensation through sensory stimulation
• Reduce muscle stiffness, spasms and pain through stretching programmes
• Reduce the risk of falls through balance work, gait re-education and training
• Help reduce foot drop through functional electrical stimulation (see Mollii Suit) and various orthotics
• Increase independence and quality of life through management of positioning in bed and seating

Occupational Therapy for a Brain Tumour:

• Functional activities independently or in groups
• Assessment of function in your own environment and establish any needs for
  equipment, adaptations, or further rehabilitation
• Hand therapy including splinting and exercise programmes
• Advice and management of pressure relief through bed positioning and seating adaptations
• Education to help individuals adapt and manage altered sensation
• Assessment and treatment of cognitive deficits
• Aiding perception and problem-solving difficulties

Speech and Language Therapy for a Brain Tumour:

• Comprehensive assessment of speech, language and communication
• Comprehensive assessment of swallow
• Recommendations, therapy plans and home exercise programmes for communication therapy (if indicated)
• Recommendations, therapy plans and home exercise programmes for
  rehabilitation of the swallow (if indicated)
• Training for family and carers on how to communicate with someone with dysphasia
• Advice and management with communication aids
• Treatment at the centre or in your own home
• Assistance with written communication including adaptive equipment

Clinical Neuropsychology for a Brain Tumour:

• Detailed assessment of patient’s functioning; in particular their cognition,
  behaviour and emotional state
• Providing advice, consultation, teaching and supervision to other professionals as well as family and carers
• Management and advice for anxiety and changes in mood

Therapeutic Interventions for Adult Functional Neurological Disorders at Hobbs Rehabilitation

Hobbs Rehabilitation provides a multidisciplinary service working with people to improve their lives with, and sometimes overcome, functional neurological disorders.

Functional neurological disorder describes neurological symptoms like limb weakness, tremors, numbness or blackouts, related to the movement and sensation parts of the nervous system and is a “software” issue of the brain, not the hardware (as in stroke or multiple sclerosis).

Who is the Functional Neurological Disorder service for?

We accept referrals for adults who are experiencing physical (motor-type) difficulties related to functional neurological disorder. This might involve leg or arm weakness. Patients should be able to attend our outpatient centre based in Winchester.

We do not offer an intensive or inpatient FND service.

To be eligible for the functional neurological disorder service, patients must fulfil ALL of the following criteria:

1. You must have a formal diagnosis of FND made by a neurologist/psychiatrist ruling out other explanations. Our therapists ask to see background letters and have consent to contact previous treating teams before we set dates for an initial assessment.
2. The diagnosis and diagnostic reasoning must have been explained to you and you must indicate understanding and acceptance of it

What is Polytrauma?

Polytrauma can happen when there are multiple injuries to body parts and organs. An example of polytrauma would be when somebody has a head injury as well as a burn injury.

What are the Symptoms of Polytrauma?

Symptoms can vary based on the sites and types of injury, and each injury will be specific to the patient.

At Hobbs Rehabilitation, we offer a variety of services and treatments for polytrauma. We work very closely with NHS colleagues and other appropriate healthcare professionals to provide advice and management of the condition. In some cases, intensive rehabilitation will be the most effective rehabilitation, suitability for this will be discussed with your therapist during the assessment.

Physiotherapy for Polytrauma:

• Comprehensive neurological assessment
• Increase muscle strength through strengthening and mobilisation exercises
• Improve balance and mobility through assessment of different seating and mobility aids and postural re-education
• Increase sensation through sensory stimulation
• Reduce muscle stiffness, spasms and pain through stretching programmes
• Reduce the risk of falls through balance work, gait re-education and training
• Help reduce foot drop through functional electrical stimulation (see Mollii Suit) and various orthotics
• Increase independence and quality of life through management of positioning in bed and seating

Occupational Therapy for Polytrauma:

• Functional activities independently or in groups
• Assessment of function in your own environment and establish any needs for equipment, adaptations, or further rehabilitation
• Hand therapy including splinting and exercise programmes
• Advice and management of pressure relief through bed positioning and seating adaptations
• Education to help individuals adapt and manage altered sensation
• Assessment and treatment of cognitive deficits
• Aiding perception and problem-solving difficulties

Speech and Language Therapy for Polytrauma:

• Comprehensive assessment of speech, language and communication
• Comprehensive assessment of swallow
• Recommendations, therapy plans and home exercise programmes for communication therapy (if indicated)
• Recommendations, therapy plans and home exercise programmes for rehabilitation of the swallow (if indicated)
• Training for family and carers on how to communicate with someone with dysphasia
• Advice and management with communication aids
• Treatment at the centre or in your own home
• Assistance with written communication including adaptive equipment

Clinical Neuropsychology for Polytrauma:

• Detailed assessment of a patient’s functioning; in particular their cognition, behaviour and emotional state
• Providing advice, consultation, teaching and supervision to other professionals as well as family and carers
• Management and advice for anxiety and changes in mood

What is Transverse Myelitis?

Transverse myelitis is a term used to describe inflammation of the spinal cord with resultant paralysis.

What are the Symptoms of Transverse Myelitis?

Symptoms can include variable loss of motor, sensory and sphincter functions, pain and tingling

At Hobbs Rehabilitation, we offer a variety of services and treatments for transverse myelitis. We work very closely with NHS colleagues and other appropriate healthcare professionals to provide advice and management of the condition. In some cases, intensive rehabilitation will be the most effective rehabilitation, suitability for this will be discussed with your therapist during the assessment.

Physiotherapy for Transverse Myelitis:

Physiotherapy is a combination of hands-on therapy and activity-based rehabilitation with the goal of achieving your maximum level of functional independence whatever your level of injury. Rehabilitation is goal driven and focused and these are discussed and set at the beginning and reassessed throughout your rehabilitation journey. Physiotherapy can also look at the return to sport, swimming,  gym/cardiovascular fitness and recreational activities. Hobbs Rehabilitation 

• Increase muscle strength through strengthening and mobilisation exercises
• Improve balance and mobility through assessment of different seating and mobility aids and postural re-education
• Increasing sensation through sensory stimulation
• Reduce muscle stiffness, spasms and pain through stretching programmes
• Reduce the risk of falls through balance work, gait re-education and training
• Treatment and management of the chest and respiratory system through advice, education on the management of infections, and exercises to improve breathing
• Increase independence and quality of life through management of positioning in bed and seating
• Master the techniques for transfers from basic to advanced levels
• Practice and problem-solve wheelchair skills in real-home environment settings
• Offer individual SCI education
• Access functional electrical stimulation (see Mollii Suit) and identify which modalities are appropriate
• Trial and assess the benefits of the exoskeleton as an adjunct to the rehabilitation
• Work on gait training including access to the LiteGait partial weight-bearing device

Occupational Therapy for Transverse Myelitis:

Occupational therapy covers a vast range of areas, including sexual function, vocational rehabilitation and driving. An occupational therapist has the knowledge and skills to guide you through a return to work and all the equipment and accessibility hurdles that may come with this. They are able to support you as you either return to your previous role or help you to investigate a new role that you would find interesting and enjoyable. An occupational therapist is able to guide you through equipment hurdles in your home too.

• Functional activities independently or in groups
• Assessing function in a home environment and establishing any needs for equipment, adaptations, or further rehabilitation
• Community skills: working on managing the community (wheelchair skills etc.) via trips to the shops/pub/friend’s house
• Hand therapy including splinting and exercise programmes
• Assessment of wheelchair set-up
• Advice and management of pressure relief through bed positioning and seating adaptations
• Management and education to help you to adapt and manage altered sensation
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Exploration of past and new hobbies and leisure activities in your wheelchair

Speech and Language Therapy for Transverse Myelitis:

Difficulties in speech and swallowing are not often experienced in transverse myelitis,
but this can vary depending on the individual. 

• Comprehensive assessment of speech, language and communication
• Comprehensive assessment of swallow
• Recommendations, therapy plans and home exercise programmes for communication therapy (if indicated)
• Recommendations, therapy plans and home exercise programmes for rehabilitation of the swallow (if indicated)
• Training for family and carers on how to communicate with someone with dysphasia
• Advice and management with communication aids
• Treatment at the centre or in your own home
• Assistance with written communication including adaptive equipment

Clinical Neuropsychology for Transverse Myelitis: 

Your rehabilitation journey may also benefit from a psychology input. A spinal cord injury is a life-changing event and sometimes there is a need to talk with a qualified individual to assist you in processing this change.

• Detailed assessment of a patient’s functioning in particular their cognition,
  behaviour and emotional state
• Providing advice, consultation, teaching and supervision to other professionals as well as family and carers
• Management and advice for anxiety and changes in mood