Patient guides Neurorehabilitation
Neurological Diseases: Specialist Summary
Neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS, Guillain-Barré syndrome and peripheral neuropathies can affect movement, balance, muscle strength, sensation and daily activities. Diagnosis and drug treatment are led by neurology; physical medicine and rehabilitation aims to preserve function, prevent falls and support independence. Electrodiagnostic tests (EMG) are particularly helpful in diagnosing nerve and muscle diseases.
When to see a doctor
- Emergency: weakness in both legs or arms progressing over days, difficulty swallowing or breathing (conditions such as Guillain-Barré); sudden neurological symptoms (possible stroke)
- Persistent numbness, burning, weakness or muscle wasting in the hands or feet
- Tremor, slowed movement, walking and balance problems, frequent falls
- Transient episodes such as blurred vision or sensory loss
- New symptoms or a clear decline in function in diagnosed patients
Treatment options
- Diagnosis: neurological examination, imaging and EMG/nerve conduction studies
- Medical treatment: disease-specific medication planned together with neurology
- Physical medicine and neurorehabilitation: balance and gait training, strengthening, flexibility, occupational therapy, speech and swallowing therapy, respiratory therapy, fatigue management
- Robotic therapies in neurorecovery: supporting gait and upper-limb training in selected patients
- Brain stimulation: methods such as rTMS, tDCS and vagus nerve stimulation are being researched in some neurological diseases; suitability is assessed individually
- Supportive approaches: orthoses, assistive devices, spasticity and pain management
Prof. Dr. Engin Çakar plans rehabilitation programmes individually after assessment, within the DrCakar NeuroRecovery Method.
Frequently asked questions
Is exercise important in Parkinson’s disease? Yes; regular exercise is among the approaches recommended in guidelines.
Can people with MS exercise? Usually yes; the programme is adapted to fatigue and heat sensitivity.
Can people with Guillain-Barré syndrome exercise? Yes, with intensity adjusted to their clinical condition.
When is EMG needed? To distinguish nerve and muscle diseases in numbness, weakness or muscle wasting.
Does rehabilitation stop the disease? It cannot be said to change the course of the disease; the aim is to support function and quality of life.
Sources
Turkish version: doktorfizik.com/rehber/norolojik-hastaliklar/