| What We Treat
Stroke
Recovery after stroke continues for far longer than most people are told. Targeted, repeated, specific practice is what drives it.
Overview
What It Is
A stroke happens when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted. What follows depends entirely on which part was affected: weakness down one side, altered balance, changed sensation, difficulty with coordination or speech. Recovery is driven by the brain’s capacity to reorganise, and that capacity responds to specific, repeated, sufficiently challenging practice rather than to time alone.
Task-Specific and Difficult
Practising the actual thing you want to do, repeatedly, at a level that is genuinely challenging. Intensity matters more than duration.
Symptoms
How It Tends to Feel
These are the features that point towards this diagnosis rather than another:
One-Sided Weakness
Typically arm, leg or both on the side opposite the affected part of the brain.
Altered Balance
Difficulty standing steadily, turning, or walking on uneven ground.
Changed Sensation
Numbness, altered temperature sense, or a limb that feels unfamiliar.
Fatigue
Profound and often the most limiting symptom, and frequently underestimated by others.
Increased Muscle Tone
Stiffness that builds over the months following, particularly in the arm.
Reduced Confidence
Fear of falling changes what people attempt, which then reduces capacity further.
Causes & Risk Factors
What Drives It
The usual contributors, in rough order of how often they turn out to matter:
Ischaemic Stroke
A clot interrupting blood supply. The large majority of strokes.
Haemorrhagic Stroke
Bleeding into or around the brain.
Modifiable Risk Factors
Blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, smoking, diabetes and inactivity.
Age and Family History
Non-modifiable, but relevant to how aggressively the rest is managed.
How We Can Help You
Treatment & Management
Treatment is built around what the assessment finds, but generally follows this shape:
When to Seek Help
Red Flags — Don’t Ignore These
Most presentations are straightforward. These features are the exceptions, and warrant prompt assessment:
⚠ Seek Medical Advice If You Notice
- Any new stroke symptoms — face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty — call 999 immediately
- Sudden severe headache, or sudden loss of vision
- New or worsening swallowing difficulty
- A fall with injury, or a marked increase in falls
If any of these apply, contact your GP or seek urgent medical care rather than waiting for a physiotherapy appointment.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it too late for me to improve?
Almost certainly not. Meaningful gains are well documented years after stroke where training is specific and sufficiently challenging. The plateau people are told about is more often a plateau in treatment than in capacity.
How does this fit with NHS rehabilitation?
It complements it. NHS input is usually intensive early and then stops. Ongoing private work matters most in the phase after discharge, when people often lose ground.
Will I get back to normal?
Sometimes fully, often partially. The more useful question is what specific things matter most to you, because those are what we build the programme around.
Not Sure If This Is What You Have?
An assessment will tell you what is actually going on and what to do about it. I see everyone myself, and you will leave with a plan rather than a leaflet.
Book Your Initial AssessmentThis page is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for individual medical advice. If you’re experiencing any of the warning signs above, contact your GP or seek emergency medical care as appropriate.