Parkinson’s disease

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Parkinson’s disease (PD) was originally described as ‘the shaking palsy’ by James Parkinson in 1817. The main features of PD are stiffness, difficulty with movements and a characteristic so-called pill-rolling tremor. Affected individuals have increasing problems with...
Stroke Part 3

Stroke Part 3

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Long-term physical training Last week I explained the great importance of physiotherapy in working and strengthening the affected muscles immediately after a stroke.The improvement starts soon but the pace of change slows with time. After a few months the performance...

Stroke part 2

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Last week I described the nature of a stroke, the underlying causes and some of the devastating consequences. Prevention and early treatment are needed to avoid some of these consequences. Long-term problems are very frequent in stroke survivors and include mobility...
Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke

Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke

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What is a stroke? A stroke happens when there is a loss of blood flow to part of the brain. Your brain cells cannot get the oxygen and nutrients they need from blood, and they start to die within a few minutes. This can cause lasting brain damage, long-term...

Peripheral Vascular Disease

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‘Used to be rock around the clock, now it’s limp about the block.’ Anon. Peripheral vascular disease Atheroma (‘hardening of the arteries’) can involve any part of the vascular tree. Arterial disease of the legs is called peripheral vascular disease (PVD). The main...