Neurologic Physical Therapy
What is Neurologic Physical Therapy?
Neurologic physical therapy evaluates and treats movement disorders, balance deficits, and functional impairments caused by diseases or injuries of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Unlike general orthopedics, specialized neuro PT focuses on driving neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and form new neural connections. Through evidence-based interventions tailored to your diagnosis, neurologic therapy helps restore movement quality, dynamic balance, strength, and long-term functional independence.
What Neurological Conditions Does Function Forward Treat in Kansas City?
Function Forward provides comprehensive, one-on-one neurologic physical therapy for complex movement disorders, progressive conditions, and traumatic injuries, including:
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Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders: Targeted high-intensity exercise protocols to improve gait velocity, motor control, and dopamine utilization.
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Stroke & Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Advanced task-specific training to recover motor function, coordination, and functional mobility.
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Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Customized conditioning to manage fatigue, improve energy conservation, and optimize balance and mobility.
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Spinal Cord Injury (SCI): Adaptive strength and sensory-motor retraining for real-world independence.
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Vestibular Disorders: Vestibular rehabilitation techniques to reduce dizziness and improve gait stability
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Dysautonomia & Autonomic Dysfunction: Tailored exercise conditioning, blood pressure regulation strategies, and positional progression to manage orthostatic intolerance, fatigue, and heart rate variability (including POTS).
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Falls and Gait Instability: Evidence-based fall risk reduction, reaction-stepping drills, and dynamic gait retraining to rebuild walking confidence and keep you moving safely in your home and community.
Why Choose a Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist (NCS)?
Care at Function Forward is led by Lauren Abelson, PT, DPT, NCS—the only board-certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist who owns and operates a private practice in the Kansas City metro area.
While traditional outpatient clinics typically offer generalist physical therapy, neurological conditions require higher clinical reasoning, specialized motor learning techniques, and deep pathology expertise:
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Advanced Post-Professional Certification: Less than 1% of physical therapists achieve ABPTS Board Certification in Neurologic Physical Therapy.
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1-on-1 Focused Attention: Every session is spent entirely with a neurologic expert—never passed off to aides, assistants, or divided across multiple patients.
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Evidence-Based Clinical Reasoning: Protocols are continuously updated to reflect the latest neuroplasticity research and clinical practice guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Function Forward provide neurologic physical therapy in Kansas City?
Function Forward offers 1-on-1, mobile neurologic physical therapy and wellness directly in your home throughout Kansas City, Missouri, and the surrounding metro area.
How does specialized neurologic physical therapy differ from general outpatient physical therapy?
General physical therapy focuses primarily on musculoskeletal injuries like joint replacements and muscle strains. Specialized neurologic PT targets the nervous system, using high-intensity, movement-specific training to rewire brain pathways and improve complex balance, gait, and coordination.
Neurologic Physical Therapy
Whether newly diagnosed or living with a condition for years, Function Forward helps individuals in the Kansas City area improve strength, balance, walking, and mobility to support an active, independent life. Our personalized, in-home care focuses on functional movement within your own space—where daily life actually happens.
PWR! Moves for Parkinson's Disease
PWR!® (Parkinson Wellness Recovery) Moves is an evidence-based exercise approach designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease. This program uses large, purposeful movements to improve mobility, balance, posture, and overall function while addressing common challenges such as stiffness, slowness, and decreased movement amplitude. No Parkinson's Disease exercise program is complete without the PWR! Moves!
Wellness Services
Our wellness services are designed to help you stay strong, active, and independent beyond traditional insurance-based care. These services are ideal for individuals who have exhausted insurance benefits for medically necessary therapy, as well as for seniors who want to maintain mobility, improve balance, and prevent falls. Programs focus on strength, flexibility, balance, and functional movement to support safe, confident living at home and long-term independence.
*Not a Medicare covered service