Activate Neurological Physiotherapy

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Activate Neurological Physiotherapy We're dedicated to improving the lives of those living with neurological conditions. Proudly serving Surrey, White Rock, Langley & greater Vancouver

We specialize in treating Stroke, Parkinson's, spinal cord & head injuries, Multiple Sclerosis, and more. Leave a Google Review:
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10/07/2026

Why can a brainstem stroke make walking so difficult - even when you're not particularly weak?

Because walking isn't just about muscle strength.
Your nervous system has to combine information from vision, sensation and balance systems, while coordinating the timing and force of your movements.

A brainstem stroke can disrupt these pathways.
That might look like:
→ dizziness when turning your head
→ inconsistent foot placement
→ difficulty maintaining balance
→ visual instability
→ weakness or reduced motor control

And this is why neuro physio shouldn't be based solely on the diagnosis:
“You had a brainstem stroke, so here's your stroke exercise program.”

Instead, we want to understand:
What was affected?
How is that affecting movement?
What activity is now difficult?
What do we need to train?

For one person, the priority may be balance during walking.
For another, it may be coordination and foot placement.
For someone else, visual or vestibular symptoms may be the biggest barrier.
Same diagnosis. Different movement problem. Different rehabilitation strategy.

That's the value of individualized neuro physio.
We don't just treat the stroke.
We treat how the stroke is affecting YOUR function.

🧠 Neurological Therapy Services
📍 #101-14928 56th Ave, Surrey, BC
📞 (604) 351-8634
📧 [email protected]

10/02/2026

What if “oops” is actually part of learning? 🧠

When we move, our brain is constantly making predictions about what should happen.

“If I do this… this is what I expect to happen.”

But sometimes the movement doesn’t go exactly as planned.
Maybe your foot lands differently.
Maybe you reach too far.
Maybe your balance shifts.
Maybe your hand doesn’t quite do what you wanted it to.

That mismatch between what your brain expected and what actually happened is called a prediction error. And it isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Your nervous system can use that information to adjust the next attempt. In other words, some mistakes provide information that helps movement adapt and improve.

That’s why rehabilitation isn’t always about making every exercise as easy — or as perfect — as possible.

We want to find the sweet spot:
➡️ challenging enough that your nervous system has something to solve
➡️ achievable enough that you can keep practising and learning
➡️ difficult enough to create useful information, without becoming overwhelming

And that sweet spot isn't the same for everyone.
A task that is easy for one person may be incredibly challenging for another. As your abilities change, the challenge needs to change too.

So the next time something doesn't go perfectly during rehab…
don't automatically think, “I failed.”
Sometimes your brain just got some very useful information.
That little “oops” might be part of how you learn.

🧠 Neurological Therapy Services
📍 #101-14928 56th Ave, Surrey, BC
📞 (604) 351-8634
📧 [email protected]

Sometimes hand therapy looks surprisingly quiet. ✋Here we're working with the small joints and intrinsic muscles of the ...
09/27/2026

Sometimes hand therapy looks surprisingly quiet. ✋

Here we're working with the small joints and intrinsic muscles of the hand. We're restoring mobility, shaping the arches of the palm and looking for opportunities to activate available movement.

Why? Because before the hand can effectively grasp, release and manipulate objects, it needs a foundation of mobility, shape and stability.

After stroke or neurological injury, weakness, altered tone and changes in muscle activation can affect that foundation. Hands-on treatment can be one part of helping prepare the hand for active movement and functional practice.

And sometimes the movement we start with is very small.
We find what's available and build from there. 💛

🧠 Neurological Therapy Services
📍 #101-14928 56th Ave, Surrey, BC
📞 (604) 351-8634
📧 [email protected]

09/25/2026

Robotic exoskeletons 🤖! Are we there yet?

They’re real. Some can be personally owned. Some insurers are even beginning to fund them. And the technology is getting seriously impressive.

But for everyday mobility? 🦽 Wheelchairs are still faster, more efficient and more practical for most people.

Today’s exoskeletons remain expensive, slower and more complex to use, but the future is exciting! And some of that future is being developed right here in BC 🇨🇦.

At Activate, we love new technology, but we also believe in helping people understand the difference between what’s possible today and what’s promising for tomorrow.



🧠 Neurological Therapy Services
📍 #101-14928 56th Ave, Surrey, BC
📞 (604) 351-8634
📧 [email protected]

09/22/2026

Many wheelchair users experience shoulder pain. And it is not surprising when we look at the mechanics. During propulsion, the shoulder repeatedly moves through:
forward reach, pushing and weight-bearing in repetitive cycles.

Over time, this can contribute to:
❌ rotator cuff irritation
❌ impingement
❌ shoulder overload

Things that can help:
✅ Optimize wheelchair setup
Seat height, wheel position, and fit matter.
✅ Improve scapular control
A strong foundation helps your shoulder move efficiently.
✅ Build strength outside of propulsion
Your shoulder needs recovery from repetitive pushing.
✅ Consider power assist options
For some individuals, reducing propulsion demands can preserve shoulder health and independence.

Your shoulders are incredibly valuable.
Protecting them protects your mobility.


🧠 Neurological Therapy Services
📍 #101-14928 56th Ave, Surrey, BC
📞 (604) 351-8634
📧 [email protected]

A neurological diagnosis can sometimes make people feel like their body is working against them.But your brain is not a ...
09/16/2026

A neurological diagnosis can sometimes make people feel like their body is working against them.

But your brain is not a fixed system.

It is dynamic, adaptable, and constantly responding to your environment.

One fascinating piece of this puzzle is BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), a protein involved in supporting brain health, learning, and neuroplasticity.

Research has shown that aerobic exercise can increase BDNF levels, which is one reason we often encourage appropriately dosed cardiovascular exercise as part of neurological rehabilitation.

But we also want to be honest:
Exercise is not a magic pill.
It will not “fix” Parkinson’s disease.
It will not undo a stroke.
It will not make recovery effortless.

What it can do is create the best possible environment for your brain and body to adapt. And that matters!
Recovery is not about waiting for your brain to change.
It is about giving your brain the right stimulus to keep adapting.

🧠 Neurological Therapy Services
📍 #101-14928 56th Ave, Surrey, BC
📞 (604) 351-8634
📧 [email protected]
💙

09/11/2026

One Physiotherapy session per week cannot undo 167 hours of inactivity.
***** Recovery requires practice outside of therapy.*******

But here is the important part:
🧠 The brain is always learning.
Every repetition sends a message: “This is the movement pattern we should keep.”

That means quality matters.
If someone repeatedly practices:
❌ pulling themselves up using their stronger side
❌ walking with unsafe compensations
❌ avoiding weight through their affected limb
…the brain may become very efficient at that strategy.

Neuroplasticity is powerful — but it is not selective.

Our goal is not just more movement.
Our goal is:
✅ meaningful movement
✅ efficient movement
✅ movement that supports independence
This is why your home program matters.
The right exercises, practiced consistently, can help reshape movement.

“Are you unsure if your home exercises are targeting the right things? This is one of the most important conversations we have with families.”

🧠 Neurological Therapy Services
📍 #101-14928 56th Ave, Surrey, BC
📞 (604) 351-8634
📧 [email protected]

09/08/2026

Parkinsonism _______ is different to Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinsonism describes a collection of movement changes; such as slowness, stiffness, difficulty with walking and impaired balance. Parkinson’s disease is one cause, but it isn’t the only one.

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is one of several neurological conditions that can initially present with Parkinson’s-like features. Especially early on, the diagnosis may not be obvious. Over time, the pattern of symptoms and how they respond to treatment can provide important clues.

So what does this mean for physiotherapy?
We treat the person in front of us, not simply the diagnostic label.
In the video above, we’re working on gait: stepping, weight transfer, movement amplitude and strategies to make walking more effective. But the way we approach those problems needs to reflect the individual.

With PSP, for example, earlier balance impairment and falls may mean that safety, appropriate mobility aids and caregiver strategies become priorities sooner. Changes in eye movement can influence how someone navigates their environment. Speech or swallowing changes may mean involving other members of the healthcare team.
And because PSP can progress differently from typical Parkinson’s disease, our goals and treatment plan need to evolve too.

We keep asking questions:
What is making movement difficult today?
What can we improve?
What can we compensate for?
And what will help you remain safe, active and independent for as long as possible?

🧠 Neurological Therapy Services
📍 #101-14928 56th Ave, Surrey, BC
📞 (604) 351-8634
📧 [email protected]

09/04/2026

Hi Marleen! 👋💛

Quiet, thoughtful, and always a calming presence… but where does she stand on the really important questions? 😄

☕ Coffee or tea?
🌴 Beach or mountains?
🍭 Favorite snack?

We put Marleen in the hot seat for a quick round of This or That!
A little peek at the person behind the therapy session— and one of the kind and reassuring members of Team Activate. 💛

Tell us: which question you’d ask Marleen? 👇

🧠 Neurological Therapy Services
📍 #101-14928 56th Ave, Surrey, BC
📞 (604) 351-8634
📧 [email protected]

For decades, scientists believed that the adult brain was largely fixed; that once brain cells were damaged, there was l...
09/02/2026

For decades, scientists believed that the adult brain was largely fixed; that once brain cells were damaged, there was little opportunity for change.

Today, we know something remarkable. The brain is constantly adapting. This ability is called neuroplasticity.

After a stroke or neurological condition, recovery isn't simply about damaged tissue healing. It's about helping the brain reorganize itself.
Through rehabilitation, the brain can:
🧠 Strengthen existing connections
🌱 Grow new pathways through synaptic sprouting
✂️ Prune away connections that are no longer useful

This is why rehabilitation isn't just about exercise. It's about purposeful, repetitive, challenging practice that teaches the brain more efficient ways to move.

But here's the part many people don't realize:
Neuroplasticity is always happening.
The brain doesn't distinguish between "good" habits and "bad" habits.It simply becomes better at whatever it practices most.
That's why movement quality matters.
Repetition is powerful, but only when you're reinforcing the patterns you actually want to keep.

Your brain is always adapting.
What are you teaching it today?

🧠 Neurological Therapy Services
📍 #101-14928 56th Ave, Surrey, BC
📞 (604) 351-8634
📧 [email protected]

Address

101/14928 56th Avenue
Surrey, BC
V3S2N5

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16043518634

Website

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