Physiotherapy Treatment for Brain Injury

At SP Therapy Services, we deliver specialist Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) physiotherapy in the client’s own home, supporting recovery, function, and independence following brain injury. Our experienced community-based physiotherapists work with adults and young people across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Yorkshire.

We cover a wide service area including Bury, Bradford, Holmfirth, Blackburn, Stalybridge, Barnsley, and surrounding towns.

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Acquired Brain Injury can affect anyone, at any time in their lives and as with all neurological conditions the symptoms and treatment are unique to the individual.

 

What is Acquired Brain Injury?

An Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) refers to any injury to the brain that occurs after birth. This may result from:

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) following accidents or falls
  • Stroke
  • Brain tumours
  • Infections (e.g. encephalitis or meningitis)
  • Oxygen deprivation (hypoxic or anoxic injury)

Symptoms of ABI can vary significantly depending on the location and severity of the injury and may include:

  • Muscle weakness or paralysis
  • Impaired coordination and balance
  • Spasticity and muscle tone changes
  • Fatigue and reduced stamina
  • Cognitive, behavioural, or speech difficulties
  • Sensory changes (vision, hearing, or sensation)

Physiotherapy plays a vital role in helping individuals adapt, recover function, and improve quality of life following brain injury.

  • Our Approach to ABI Physiotherapy

    We provide individualised, goal-based rehabilitation tailored to the unique needs of every client and their stage of recovery. Our ABI physiotherapy approach includes:

    • Strengthening and conditioning exercises
    • Balance and coordination retraining
    • Tone and spasticity management techniques
    • Fatigue management and pacing strategies
    • Functional task practice for daily living activities
    • Transfer training and safe mobility practice
    • Falls prevention and postural management
    • Vestibular rehabilitation
    • Support worker and family education
    • Supported engagement in community activities

    We adapt therapy based on each client’s capabilities, goals, and environment, working towards real-world outcomes that restore confidence, movement, and participation.

  • How does ABI affect people?

    ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) can affect anyone, at any time in their lives and as with all neurological conditions the symptoms and treatment are unique to the individual.

    ABI can cause movement problems, and thinking problems making life challenging for patients and their families, these problems can be temporary or permanent.

    Although the most rapid progress is made in the first 6 months after an ABI, patients continue to improve many years after their ABI.

  • How can physiotherapy help adults living with ABI?

    Although every individual with an ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) is different, the main focus of physiotherapy is to improve a persons ability to move and maximise their independence. To achieve this a physiotherapist will work to:

    • Improve posture and walking;
    • Improve balance and reduce the risk of falls;
    • Strengthen muscles, and reduce muscle stiffness;
    • Mobilise joints and improve the quality of movement;
    • Improve respiratory function and challenge the cardiovascular system;
    • Provide education and training to support teams and families.
  • How can physiotherapy help children living with ABI?

    Children with ABI differ from adults in that their brains (their movement control centre) and their musculoskeletal system (bones and muscles) are not yet fully developed. ABI impacts on a child’s ability to control movement making muscles floppy (low toned or flaccidity), stiff (high toned or spasticity) or uncoordinated (dystonia and ataxia). Children learn through movement they explore play and learn about, depth, shape, texture, volume distance and harm by moving through their environment. When moving is difficult learning becomes a greater challenge.

    Stiff, floppy or uncoordinated muscles pull on the immature and growing skeleton and this can cause developmental problems such as scoliosis, contractures and joint problems especially in the hips.

    Physiotherapists work to re-educate more normal movement patterns and treat and manage the muscles to maximise the child’s opportunity to learn through movement, and reduce the impact of the pull on growing bones

    Our physiotherapists can work with a child at school or at home, we have physiotherapists working in our Greater Manchester, Lancashire and  Yorkshire communities.

  • Supporting Clients at Home

    Home-based ABI physiotherapy allows us to:

    • Address challenges within the client’s home, care setting, or supported accommodation
    • Focus on real-life tasks such as transfers, mobility within the home, and using stairs safely
    • Avoid travel fatigue or overstimulation from clinical environments
    • Provide flexible, consistent therapy that fits around the client’s wider rehabilitation schedule

    Our community-based approach helps embed rehabilitation into the client’s daily routines and living spaces, ensuring therapy remains practical, achievable, and meaningful.

  • Who We Work With

    We regularly support:

    • Adults and young people following acquired brain injury
    • Families and carers seeking specialist neurorehab at home
    • Case Managers managing complex ABI rehabilitation and litigation cases
    • Solicitors coordinating funding and legal support for brain injury claims
    • NHS and Social Care teams seeking additional community-based neurological input
    • All of our team regularly support their local Headway Groups in Salford, Stockport, Rotherham and Huddersfield and link to them

    We provide clear reports, SMART goals, timely assessments, and transparent costings to support rehabilitation planning, case management, and funding processes.

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If you or your client require specialist home-based brain injury physiotherapy, we’re here to help.

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Chartered Physiotherapists

Community Based Neurological Physiotherapy Specialists

Specialist neurological physiotherapy for acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, and complex neurological conditions in adults and children, delivered through home-based rehabilitation. We work closely with case managers, solicitors, and healthcare teams to provide personalised physiotherapy, SMART goal planning, and ongoing progress reporting across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Yorkshire.

About SP Therapy Services

Reviews

Marie Oxtoby

I am the Chair/Co-ordinator of Bolton Neuro Voices, a small local charity. I first contacted SP Therapy Services in 2012 when I was looking for a neuro physiotherapist to help us pilot a new Hydrotheraoy Course for people with long-term neurological conditions. Since then Susan Pattison and her staff have helped us to deliver ten courses to a total of more than 200 people and to facilitate the progress of many on to ongoing Continuation Programmes. Her expertise and willingness to listen and respond to our needs and those of our very varied participants is hugely appreciated and our partnership has gone from strength to strength. I unreservedly recommend this practice.

Amanda Knight

Andy provided a very thorough and considered physiotherapy assessment of a client with complex needs. His report was to a very high standard and underpinned all immediate and long term therapy needs. Thank you!

Elaine O'Flaherty

Very professional service and high quality of reports and communication to ensure best practice and outcomes for my clients.

Suzanne

SP Therapy Services has supported Greater Manchester Spinal Injury Group for many years. Susan and Rebecca have demonstrated knowledge and skill and been adaptable to working in community settings. I would have no hesitation in recommending SP Therapy Services

Janet Penny

I am delighted to endorse the team at SP Therapy Services. They consistently provide exceptional therapy and support their practice with sound, detailed documentation, which always arrives in a timely manner. The friendly clinicians are a credit to this fabulous company and it is evident that they always keep their patients at the centre of everything they do.