Vera and Alistair
Reflecting on Mirror Therapy
Vera
Living with Parkinson’s, Vera knows the condition affects each person differently, with no two days the same. After reading about Liberty in Aroundtown, she has been coming to the group class now for two years to sustain her movement and meet new people.
Alistair
Having been a patient of Charlie’s for over ten years, Alistair has been working with the Liberty team to keep on top of his health since having a stroke 11 and a half years ago.
“I might crawl in but I walk out stronger each week.”
“I’m a widow and live by myself. The company here is smashing, there’s no other support or service like it. Sometimes I come in tears but I always leave laughing. “I know there is no cure for me and that my condition will continue to deteriorate but it’s best to keep active and moving. I might crawl in but I walk out stronger each week.”
With tea, coffee and cake after each session and extra time to talk about the ups and downs of daily life, the group have formed real social bonds, helping to organise events and get-
“When I was given NHS rehabilitation, I was only allowed six months before I was cast aside when my time was up. But then again, meeting Charlie King has been my downfall – it’s cost me a fortune in petrol.”
Regularly joining in with the class, Alistair credits Georgina and the rehab technicians with taking good care of the group each week.
“The main thing we’ve all learnt is to think positive”
“The main thing we’ve all learnt is to think positive. There are far worse than I, younger people bound to wheelchairs, so I often give myself a shake. I know I’m not going to get back to how I was but I can still drive – even if I can’t play golf.”
togethers as well as fundraising days to help those less fortunate.
Liberty’s neuromuscular group exercise class is every Thursday from 11.15am.
A new concept at Liberty Physiotherapy, rehabilitation technician Mags is working with individual clients to offer Mirror Therapy; a unique, reflection-based theory to run alongside one-to-one rehabilitation.
Originally used to help relieve phantom pain in amputees, mirror therapy has been recognised for its benefits in dealing with chronic pain and sensory/motor deficits in stroke survivors.
Using only an everyday mirror, Mags has seen positive effects of the treatment on people like Les since introducing the therapy technique in April. Following a stroke four years ago Les was left unable to stand, walk or speak and has been coming to Liberty for three years. After talking to Mags about Mirror Therapy he is the first client to take part and has seen steady progress.
Like a circuit board the brain has 100 trillion little pathways which send messages to different parts of the body. When a stroke happens, part of the brain becomes damaged, meaning signals can’t get along their path and so functions such as speech or movement are affected. The brain is so clever and adaptable that it moves these functions to other areas within the brain and, through repetition in the rehabilitation process, the brain can re-route these signals so that you can relearn how to do these things again. With Mirror Therapy, the process involves reflecting the unaffected limb into the mirror while the affected limb is hidden. This illusion tricks the brain into thinking the affected limb is moving; you’re not actually tricking the brain though as it is much smarter than that. The illusion helps the brain rewire itself, Neuroplasticity. With brain cells for what you
see (mirror neurons) versus those for movement (motor neurons) in the same area of the brain, seeing movement in the mirror stimulates the movement cells. This enables rewiring of these signals around the damaged area to move the affected limb. Les’ right arm was affected by the stroke; while one-to-one sessions have helped gain some movement Mags noticed that Les used only his shoulder to move the arm and never his elbow or wrist.
During Mirror Therapy, Mags helps Les to work towards his goal of having movement in his right hand again and they have seen a positive response during the weekly sessions.
After a warm up to prepare and stretch out the limb, Mags places the mirror by Les’ right shoulder in a comfortable position. He then focuses on looking into the mirror while moving his left arm in various ways - what is surreal is that his right arm starts to move behind the mirror, his previously closed-up hand flattens out onto the bench and his elbow starts to move back and forth. When the mirror is removed all movement stops, however Les’ awareness of his affected limb is heightened.
Mags says: “You need full co-operation to do it and must practice daily for 15 minutes at a time for it to make a difference. You can’t just visualise it, you have to focus on what you are seeing to trigger the movement and the brain’s recovery process.”
Have you been told you have plateaued in your rehabilitation? Let us help you take the next step along your rehabilitation journey
Specialists in the following neurological disorders: • Cerebral Palsy
• Spinal Cord Injury • Traumatic Brain Injury
• Stroke • Multiple Sclerosis • Parkinson’s
• Chronic neck and back conditions
Revolutionary Neuromuscular - Energising Therapy (NET)
A hands-on treatment technique that can open pathways to aid recovery, many years after the initial trauma.
Hollowgate House, Hollowgate, Rotherham S60 2LD
Tel: 01709 837752
email:
admin@libertyphysiotherapy.co.uk www.libertyphysiotherapy.co.uk
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