A leading rehabilitation specialist has opened the first intensive neurotherapy centre in the south of England.
Hobbs Rehabilitation has invested around £500,000 in the Intensive Neurotherapy Centre at Eden Office Park in Pill, Bristol, for people with brain and spinal cord injuries, stroke and conditions such conditions as MS and Parkinson’s Disease.
It is the first centre of its kind in the south of England to combine personalised hands-on therapy with state-of-the-art technology and aims to help patients with neurological conditions speed up their recovery progress significantly.
The 2,000 sq m complex has therapy rooms, training facilities, breakout areas and a conventional physiotherapy gym as well as next-generation neurotechnology equipment utilising robotics, sensors and virtual reality.
Bristol is the first Hobbs Rehabilitation Centre with the entire Tyrosolution suite of technology from Tyromotion, including the LEXO® robotic gait rehabilitation system.
It is the first independent provider in the UK to combine bespoke high-dosage physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy alongside the Tyrosolution, MyoPro® and other assistive technologies.
Hobbs Rehabilitation’s can-do approach and clinical excellence helps patients to rebuild their lives from devastating injuries and conditions by focussing on achieving personal goals such as climbing the stairs unaided, driving a car or getting back on the golf course.
By using neurotechnology in a targeted way for several hours per day over a period of four to eight weeks, they can potentially deliver a six-fold increase in the intensity of treatment compared to conventional therapy alone, maximising the impact on neuroplasticity.
Clinical lead and co-founder Helen Hobbs, who founded the firm with Nicky Ellis in 2005, said: “The exciting development of assistive neurotechnology and robotics has allowed clinicians to significantly increase the number of repetitions achieved during therapy sessions and improve patient outcomes.
“Evidence-based research reports that the level of intensity plays a critical role in successfully maximising the impact of treatment and influencing functional change.
“However, success can only be achieved with expert application tailored to each individual and their desired outcomes alongside conventional therapy.”
Hobbs has more than 70 clinicians and provides services in multiple locations and dedicated centres across the south.
It has already created five new jobs at the Bristol centre and plans to grow the clinical team in the area by up to 15 therapists over the next three years.
The firm will also continue to invest in the latest neurotechnology and support clinical research and training as part of its Masterclass in Neurotechnology (MINT) programme.
Its patients have included Olympic equestrian William Fox-Pitt, former SBS officer Mark Bowra and event rider Jemima Green.
Alison Gomes Da Silva, lead physiotherapist and centre manager, said: “Bristol is one of the most progressive cities in the UK and is the perfect location for our new therapy centre, which will be the first in the south of England to combine intense therapy with the latest neurotechnology.”
Hobbs Rehabilitation provides neurotherapy services to the NHS and direct to individuals as well as taking referrals from a variety of sources including private medical insurers, injury lawyers and case managers. It treats around 500 patients across the south at any one time.
Its centres remain open during the national lockdown, in line with government advice.
