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Neuro Occupational Therapy
Authored by: Rickey Hickman (Senior Occupational Therapist)
What is Neuro Occupational Therapy?
Neuro occupational therapy supports people living with neurological conditions to participate in everyday activities. It focuses on how changes to the brain or nervous system affect movement, cognition, sensation, fatigue and safety, and uses practical, goal-directed and evidence-based strategies to support function, independence and participation in daily life.
Neuro occupational therapists work with individuals to understand how neurological changes impact daily tasks such as self-care, household activities, mobility and community participation. Therapy is tailored to what is most important to the individual and is often delivered in real-life environments so strategies can be practised where they are needed.
The focus is not only on improving specific skills, but on supporting safe and meaningful participation in everyday life.
Neuro occupational therapists focus specifically on conditions affecting the brain and nervous system, giving them the training, skills, and resources to assess, plan and deliver therapy for neurological changes.
While generalist OTs support a broad range of conditions, they may not have the same depth of knowledge or tools to meet the complex needs of people with neurological conditions.
Choosing a neuro OT ensures therapy is tailored, relevant, and designed to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Who is Neuro Occupational Therapy for?
Neuro occupational therapy supports people living with conditions affecting the brain or nervous system who want to improve safety, independence and participation in everyday activities. This includes people of different ages, at different stages of recovery, and those with long-term neurological conditions. Neuro occupational therapists tailor therapy to your goals, abilities and environment to provide the most relevant support for your situation.
Conditions That Benefit from Neuro Occupational Therapy
Stroke
Parkinson's Disease
Brain Injury
People recovering from stroke often experience arm and hand weakness, coordination difficulties, or spasticity. Neuro OT supports upper limb and cognitive rehabilitation, sensory retraining, task adaptation, and home modifications to help you engage in daily activities safely and independently.
Brain Injury
Parkinson's Disease
Brain Injury
Brain injury can impact memory, attention, planning, and physical coordination. Our therapy focuses on cognitive rehabilitation, fatigue and energy management, and functional task training to support everyday independence at home, work, or school.
Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's Disease
PD can cause slow, rigid movements and fine motor challenges, making daily tasks harder. Neuro OT provides movement strategies, adaptive techniques, upper limb therapy, and assistive devices to maintain safety and independence in daily life.
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord Injury
Parkinson's Disease
The impact of a SCI is dependent on the level of injury, but typically mobility, upper limb function and the ability to perform everyday activities is impacted. Neuro OT focussing on task adaptation, getting the right equipment, upper limb rehabilitation, and home modifications so you can participate in daily activities confidently and safely.
Cerebral Palsy
Spinal Cord Injury
Multiple Sclerosis
CP can affect muscle tone, coordination, and fine motor skills. Therapy includes physical and upper limb rehab, sensory retraining, adaptive equipment, and task modifications to maximise functional independence at home, in the community and at work.
Multiple Sclerosis
Spinal Cord Injury
Multiple Sclerosis
MS often brings fatigue, muscle weakness, coordination challenges, and cognitive changes. Neuro OT provides energy management strategies, adaptive techniques, upper limb and cognitive rehabilitation to help you stay active and engaged in daily life.
Myopathies
Neuromuscular Diseases
Neuromuscular Diseases
Myopathies, including muscular dystrophies and inflammatory or congenital myopathies, primarily affect muscle strength and endurance, impacting tasks like lifting, walking, and daily activities. Neuro OT provides physical and upper limb rehabilitation, adaptive strategies, and task modifications to support functional participation and everyday safety.
Neuromuscular Diseases
Neuromuscular Diseases
Neuromuscular Diseases
Conditions such as MND, peripheral neuropathies, and myasthenia gravis can cause progressive weakness, reduced mobility, and fatigue. Neuro OT focuses on adaptive strategies, assistive technology, task pacing, and environmental modifications to help you maintain independence and safely engage in daily life.
NeuroVita - Your Partner For Occupational Therapy
Neuro Occupational Therapy Services
Upper Limb Rehabilitation
Upper Limb Rehabilitation
Upper Limb Rehabilitation
Exercises and therapy focused on improving hand and arm range of motion, strength, endurance and coordination to support everyday activities, and may include advanced techniques such as functional electrical stimulation (FES) where appropriate.
Cognitive Rehabilitation
Upper Limb Rehabilitation
Upper Limb Rehabilitation
Practical strategies and cognitive exercises to improve attention, memory, planning and problem-solving for daily tasks such as managing routines, appointments and everyday activities.
Sensory Retraining
Upper Limb Rehabilitation
Task-Specific Training (ADLs and IADLs)
Targeted activities to improve sensory awareness, discrimination and integration to improve safety and functional use of the arm and hand.
Task-Specific Training (ADLs and IADLs)
Assistive Technology Assessment and Prescription
Task-Specific Training (ADLs and IADLs)
Targeted and repetitive practice of meaningful everyday tasks such as dressing, cooking, transfers and more to improve functional performance in real-world settings.
Assistive Technology Assessment and Prescription
Assistive Technology Assessment and Prescription
Assistive Technology Assessment and Prescription
Assessment and trialling of assistive equipment to ensure prescribed technology supports your goals, function and safety, with recommendations informed by current developments in assistive technology.
Home Modification Assessment and Prescription
Assistive Technology Assessment and Prescription
Assistive Technology Assessment and Prescription
Assessment of the home environment with recommendations such as rails, ramps or layout changes to improve safety, access and functional independence
Falls Risk Assessment and Prevention
Carer and Family Education and Training
Falls Risk Assessment and Prevention
Assessment of balance, mobility and home environments with practical recommendations such as equipment, environmental changes and movement strategies to reduce falls risk.
Fatigue and Energy Management
Carer and Family Education and Training
Falls Risk Assessment and Prevention
Education and practical strategies to manage neurological fatigue by balancing activity and rest, prioritising tasks and modifying routines.
Carer and Family Education and Training
Carer and Family Education and Training
Carer and Family Education and Training
Hands-on training for carers and family members to support safe assistance, manual handling and consistent carryover of therapy strategies
How is Neuro Occupational Therapy Delivered?
Neuro occupational therapy begins by setting meaningful goals and understanding your abilities and challenges. A comprehensive assessment considers your physical, cognitive and sensory abilities, your functional performance in daily living, work, school or community activities, and the environments in which you live and move.
Therapy is then individually planned and delivered through targeted interventions, which are adjusted over time as abilities, needs and goals change. Whenever possible, therapy is provided in the environments where tasks need to be performed, and session lengths and frequency are tailored to your goals, needs and capacity. This approach is supported by evidence and helps maximise the relevance and effectiveness of therapy.
Not sure if neuro occupational therapy is right for you or your family member?
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at admin@neurovita.com.au if you cannot find an answer to your question.
A neuro occupational therapist helps people improve their ability to complete everyday activities following neurological change. This may include self-care, household tasks, mobility, memory and thinking skills, safety at home and participation in the community.
All occupational therapists are university-trained to support people with daily activities. General occupational therapists work across a wide range of conditions, while a neuro occupational therapist primarily focuses on conditions affecting the brain and nervous system. This focused area of practice supports a deeper understanding of how neurological conditions impact movement, cognition, sensation, fatigue and safety, allowing assessment and therapy approaches to be closely matched to neurological presentations and everyday functional needs.
No. Neuro occupational therapy addresses physical, cognitive, sensory and functional challenges, as well as environmental and safety considerations that impact daily living, work, study and community participation.
Yes. Therapy is delivered in the home and community, as this allows strategies and skills to be practised in the environments where they are actually used. Home-based therapy is supported by evidence and helps improve carryover into everyday life.
Yes. For many people, involving families and carers is an important part of therapy. Repetition and consistent practice are key factors in neurological rehabilitation, and involving supports helps increase opportunities for practice and help to maintain skills developed during therapy.
No. Neuro occupational therapy can support people at different stages, including those living with long-term neurological conditions. Research into neuroplasticity shows that the brain can continue to adapt over time, meaning therapy may still support improvements in function, safety and participation beyond the early recovery period.
During the initial assessment, your occupational therapist takes time to understand what is most important to you so that goals are meaningful and relevant. Therapy is then tailored to these goals based on your current abilities, with intervention reviewed and adjusted over time to reflect changes in your needs and progress.
A referral is not always required. However, some funding schemes or insurers may require a referral from your doctor or case manager. We can help clarify what is needed based on individual circumstance.
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