Brain Tumour

Brain Tumour

What is a brain tumour?

A brain tumour is a growth of abnormal cells in or around the brain. Brain tumours can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), and they can behave very differently depending on their type, location and rate of growth.

Some brain tumours grow slowly, while others can grow more quickly. Even a non-cancerous tumour can cause problems if it grows in an area of the brain that controls important functions such as movement, balance, speech or vision.

Brain tumours can affect people of all ages. The symptoms and impact on everyday life depend on the type and location of the tumour, as well as the treatment a person receives.

People with brain tumours may be supported by a multidisciplinary healthcare team, which can include neurosurgeons, oncologists, neurologists, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and other healthcare professionals.

What causes brain tumours?

For most people, there is no known single cause of a brain tumour.

Brain tumours develop because cells undergo genetic changes that cause them to grow or divide abnormally. These changes can happen for reasons that are not fully understood and, in most cases, there is nothing a person could have done to prevent the tumour.

Some factors are known to increase the risk of developing certain types of brain tumour.

Risk factors can include:

Age
Brain tumours can occur at any age. Some types are more common in children, while others are more common in adults.

Radiation exposure
Exposure to high doses of ionising radiation, particularly previous radiotherapy to the head, can increase the risk of developing certain brain tumours. This accounts for a small proportion of cases.

Inherited genetic conditions
Some rare genetic conditions can increase the risk of developing certain types of brain tumour. These include conditions such as:

• Neurofibromatosis type 1

• Neurofibromatosis type 2

• Tuberous sclerosis

• Li-Fraumeni syndrome

• Von Hippel-Lindau disease

Having a family history of brain tumours can sometimes be relevant, particularly where a known genetic condition is present. However, most people with a brain tumour do not have an inherited genetic condition.

What types of brain tumours are there?

There are many different types of brain tumour. They can be classified according to the type of cell they develop from, their location and how they behave.

Brain tumours commonly seen in children include:

• Astrocytomas

• Ependymomas

• Medulloblastomas

• Craniopharyngiomas

• Germ cell tumours

• Choroid plexus tumours

• Embryonal tumours

• Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours

• Pineoblastomas

The most appropriate treatment and rehabilitation will depend on the individual tumour type, its location and the person's overall health.

Who can develop a brain tumour?

Brain tumours can affect children and adults of any sex, ethnicity or background.

The type of tumour and the symptoms experienced can vary considerably with age.

In children, a brain tumour may affect development, movement, learning, school participation and physical activity.

In adults, it may affect mobility, balance, strength, coordination, work, independence and everyday activities.

What are the symptoms of a brain tumour?

Symptoms vary depending on the tumour's location, size and growth rate.

Possible symptoms include:

• Persistent or worsening headaches

• Nausea or vomiting

• Seizures

• Changes in vision

• Changes in speech or communication

• Weakness or reduced movement in an arm or leg

• Changes in sensation

• Problems with balance or coordination

• Difficulty walking

• Changes in memory or concentration

• Changes in behaviour or personality

• Fatigue

• Problems with hearing or other neurological functions

Having one of these symptoms does not necessarily mean someone has a brain tumour. Many of these symptoms can have other causes.

If symptoms are persistent, worsening or concerning, medical assessment is important.

How can a brain tumour affect movement?

A brain tumour can affect movement when it develops in, or puts pressure on, areas of the brain involved in movement, balance and coordination.

A person may experience:

• Weakness

• Reduced coordination

• Changes in muscle tone

• Difficulty controlling movements

• Problems with balance

• Changes in walking pattern

• Difficulty with fine or gross motor skills

• Reduced endurance

• Increased falls risk

• Difficulties with everyday activities

For children, these changes can sometimes affect developmental skills such as sitting, standing, walking, running, jumping and participating in play or school activities.

Ataxia and brain tumours

Ataxia describes difficulties with coordination and control of movement. It is a symptom or clinical sign rather than a specific disease.

Ataxia can affect:

• Walking

• Balance

• Reaching

• Coordination

• Speech

• Fine motor skills

A brain tumour affecting the cerebellum or nearby structures can cause ataxia because these areas play an important role in coordinating movement and maintaining balance.

However, ataxia has many possible causes and does not automatically mean that someone has a brain tumour.

Physiotherapy can help people manage the functional effects of ataxia, including difficulties with balance, walking, coordination and everyday movement.

Physiotherapy for brain tumours

Can physiotherapy help someone with a brain tumour?

Yes. Physiotherapy can be an important part of rehabilitation for people with brain tumours.

Physiotherapy does not treat or remove the tumour itself. Instead, it can help address physical and functional difficulties caused by the tumour, its treatment or changes following surgery.

Physiotherapy may be provided during treatment, following surgery or radiotherapy, or as part of longer-term rehabilitation.

The person's medical condition, treatment plan and current symptoms will always be considered before therapy begins.

Physiotherapy after brain tumour surgery

Some people experience changes in movement and function following brain tumour surgery.

The effects will depend on factors such as the area of the brain involved, the type of surgery and the individual's recovery.

Following surgery, physiotherapy may support difficulties including:

• Difficulty walking

• Reduced balance

• Weakness in the arms or legs

• Reduced coordination

• Changes in muscle tone

• Reduced physical fitness

• Fatigue

• Difficulties with transfers and everyday mobility

• Reduced confidence with movement

Physiotherapy can work alongside the wider medical and rehabilitation team to support a person's recovery and help them gradually return to meaningful activities.

What does physiotherapy for brain tumours involve?

Treatment is individualised and may include:

Strength and functional exercise

Exercises can help maintain or improve strength where appropriate and support functional activities such as standing, transfers, walking and stairs.

Balance and coordination

Activities can be used to improve balance, postural control and coordination, particularly where a person is experiencing ataxia or increased falls risk.

Walking and mobility

Physiotherapy can assess walking and help develop strategies to improve safety, confidence and independence.

This may include:

• Gait retraining

• Walking practice

• Balance during walking

• Changes of direction

• Transfers

• Stairs

• Mobility aid assessment and training

Stretching and flexibility

Stretching and positioning may be used to maintain comfortable movement and joint range where stiffness or changes in muscle tone are affecting function.

Postural management

Physiotherapy can provide advice around positioning, posture and movement during everyday activities.

Fatigue and energy management

Fatigue can be a significant challenge for people living with or recovering from a brain tumour.

Physiotherapy can help individuals understand their current physical capacity and develop strategies for balancing activity, rest and recovery.

Fitness and endurance

Where medically appropriate, exercise can help maintain cardiovascular fitness and physical endurance.

Exercise intensity and progression should be tailored carefully around treatment, fatigue, symptoms and the advice of the wider medical team.

Mobility aids and equipment

Some people may benefit from walking aids or other equipment to improve safety and independence.

A physiotherapist can assess how an aid is being used and provide appropriate guidance alongside other members of the rehabilitation team.

Hydrotherapy for brain tumour rehabilitation

Hydrotherapy is physiotherapy carried out in a heated pool.

The buoyancy of the water can reduce the amount of weight placed through the body, which may make some movements easier and provide a supportive environment for exercise.

Hydrotherapy may be used to work on:

• Strength

• Balance

• Coordination

• Walking and stepping

• Range of movement

• Cardiovascular fitness

• Exercise tolerance

• Confidence with movement

The warmth of the water can also make movement more comfortable for some people.

Hydrotherapy is not suitable for everyone with a brain tumour. Suitability will depend on factors such as medical stability, treatment, fatigue, seizures, wounds and any other individual considerations. This should be discussed with the person's medical and rehabilitation team.

Specialist equipment and technology

At Positive Steps, specialist equipment may be incorporated into rehabilitation where it is clinically appropriate.

This can include:

EzyGain / EMA treadmill
Supported treadmill walking can provide opportunities to practise stepping and walking while allowing the level of support and challenge to be adjusted.

MOTOmed
MOTOmed provides assisted or active repetitive movement of the arms or legs and may be useful when independent cycling movement is difficult.

BlazePods
Interactive light-based activities can be incorporated into rehabilitation to challenge balance, coordination, reaction time, reaching and movement planning.

Hypervibe
Whole-body vibration may be incorporated into an exercise programme for selected individuals where clinically appropriate, for example as part of weight-bearing, muscle activation and functional exercise.

Equipment is selected according to the person's diagnosis, medical status, abilities, fatigue, treatment stage and goals. Not every piece of equipment will be appropriate for every person.

Physiotherapy for children with brain tumours

For children, rehabilitation is about more than physical movement. A brain tumour or its treatment can affect development, school participation, play, friendships and independence.

Physiotherapy may support children with:

• Sitting and standing

• Walking

• Running and jumping

• Balance and coordination

• Strength and endurance

• Gross motor development

• Playground and PE participation

• Confidence with movement

• Returning to hobbies and activities

Therapy can be made engaging and play-based so that children can practise important physical skills while doing activities that are meaningful to them.

Physiotherapists may also work closely with parents, carers, schools and other professionals to help strategies continue outside therapy sessions.

A personalised approach to brain tumour rehabilitation

Every person with a brain tumour is different.

At Positive Steps, physiotherapy is adapted according to the person's:

• Age

• Tumour and treatment history

• Current abilities

• Symptoms

• Fatigue levels

• Mobility

• Goals

• Home, school, work and community activities

Our aim is not simply to improve a physical measurement. We want to help people use their movement and physical abilities to participate in the things that matter to them.

Working with the wider healthcare team

Brain tumour rehabilitation often involves a multidisciplinary team.

Depending on individual needs, this may include:

• Neurosurgeons

• Oncologists

• Neurologists

• Specialist nurses

• Physiotherapists

• Occupational therapists

• Speech and language therapists

• Psychologists

• Dietitians

• Orthotists

• Rehabilitation specialists

Positive Steps physiotherapy works alongside the wider healthcare team and can provide rehabilitation focused on movement, physical function and participation.

How Positive Steps can help

Positive Steps Physiotherapy provides specialist rehabilitation for children and adults with neurological and complex physical conditions.

Our aim is to give every person the freedom to move better and continue doing what they love.

We provide individual physiotherapy alongside support for families and carers, schools and everyday activities.

Our services may include:

• Individual physiotherapy

• Neurological rehabilitation

• Family education and support

• School-based support

• Gross motor development

• Strength and conditioning

• Balance and coordination training

• Walking and gait rehabilitation

• Mobility aid support

• Postural management

• Hydrotherapy

• Fatigue and energy-management strategies

• Engaging and purposeful exercise programmes

• Personalised goal setting

We take a positive approach and focus on what can be done, adapting rehabilitation as a person's needs and abilities change.

Always finding what can be done. Together, we find new ways to thrive.

What are the goals of physiotherapy?

Depending on the individual, physiotherapy goals may include:

• Improving functional mobility

• Supporting safe walking and transfers

• Improving balance and coordination

• Maintaining or improving strength

• Supporting physical endurance

• Reducing falls risk

• Maintaining comfortable movement and flexibility

• Improving confidence with movement

• Supporting independence

• Helping children participate in play and school activities

• Supporting adults with work, hobbies and community activities

• Helping families develop practical strategies for everyday life

The focus is always on meaningful, achievable goals that improve participation and quality of life.

Contact us

Find out more about brain tumours

If you or your child has been diagnosed with a brain tumour, your medical team can provide information specific to the tumour type, treatment and individual circumstances.

For reliable information and support, useful organisations include:

• NHS

• The Brain Tumour Charity

• Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG)

If you are concerned about new or worsening neurological symptoms, seek advice from your GP or healthcare team. If symptoms are sudden or severe, seek urgent medical attention.