Written and clinically reviewed by Shivaliba Zala, HCPC-registered physiotherapist (PH155757)

Reviewed 2 October 2026

Online physiotherapy for functional neurological disorder (FND)

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is diagnosed by a neurologist, not by us. If you already have a diagnosis and are medically stable, a video session lets your physiotherapist work on movement and activity. Before you start, your GP or specialist team must confirm it is safe for you to begin physiotherapy. Outcomes vary between people and we promise none. Stroke signs mean 999.

Book a £40 video assessment

How online physiotherapy works for FND

FND is diagnosed by a neurologist. We do not diagnose it, and we ask you to have a diagnosis from a neurologist before we start. If you are unsure whether your symptoms are FND, speak to your GP about seeing a neurologist rather than booking with us.

NHS inform says that specialised physiotherapy can be useful in treating FND, and that it helps remind the body how it should move and helps build up lost strength and stamina. It also says outcomes vary: some people benefit a lot and may go into remission, while others continue to have symptoms despite treatment. We do not promise any outcome, and our online service is general physiotherapy support that does not replace care from your neurology team.

A UK trial called Physio4FMD, published in The Lancet Neurology in 2024, looked at specialist physiotherapy for functional motor disorder in adults with a neurologist's diagnosis. It did not find a difference in its main measure of physical functioning at 12 months compared with usual care from community neurological physiotherapy. People given the specialist treatment more often rated their motor symptoms as improved, and the authors describe both kinds of physiotherapy as safe and valued for selected patients. The trial abstract does not describe video sessions, so it is not evidence about our service.

Our neurological rehabilitation service is for people who are medically stable. Before you start, your GP or specialist team must confirm it is safe for you to begin physiotherapy. Our service guidance says a family member or carer can join the session and help get the room ready. We work at a pace you can manage. Keep your GP or specialist team informed about your treatment.

NICE guidance on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders (NG252, published in 2025) includes FND. It recommends that people with FND are offered activities that encourage and enable recovery of movement and function, built around goals and focused on movement while moving attention away from symptoms. It also says a registered practitioner, such as a physiotherapist, should develop and oversee an exercise programme with the person. NICE does not promise recovery and says nothing about our service.

Video has limits. We cannot examine you by hand, and we cannot catch you if you lose your balance, so we plan movements you can do safely at home. If video does not suit you, we will say so and suggest in-person care through your NHS team.

What the video assessment checks

Your diagnosis, who made it, and confirmation that your GP or specialist team has said it is safe for you to begin physiotherapy.
What you want to be able to do, in your own words, and what has become harder.
How your symptoms affect movement, walking, tiredness and daily tasks, and what tends to make them better or worse.
What other care you are having, such as support from a neurology team or psychological support, so that our plan does not clash with it.
Whether your room and set-up at home are safe for the movements we plan, and who can be with you.
Whether any new symptom has appeared suddenly, which we will route using the urgent options below.

What treatment usually involves

We begin with what you want to do and a few gentle movement checks over video. From that we build a short routine to repeat at home, at a pace you can manage, and we change it as you tell us what is working and what is not.

Your first appointment is a 60-minute video assessment at £40, then 30-minute follow-ups at £30. Triage at booking confirms whether video suits you, and we tell you before you pay if it does not.

Because outcomes vary between people, we do not give a timeline or a prediction. We review the plan with you at each follow-up. Keep your GP or specialist team informed about your treatment.

If a plan is not helping, we will say so and talk about whether a different kind of care, such as in-person therapy through your NHS team, would suit you better.

How long recovery usually takes

NHS inform says outcomes vary: some people benefit a lot and may go into remission, and others continue to have symptoms despite treatment. We cannot predict where you will be, so we review your movement and daily tasks with you at each session.

When you need to be seen in person instead

A video appointment is not the right route for the situations below, and a home visit is not a substitute for urgent care.

Call 999 now if you think you or someone with you is having a stroke. Use FAST: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call 999. Other signs include weakness or numbness down one side, blurred vision or loss of sight, and dizziness. Do not drive yourself to A&E.
Do not assume a sudden new symptom is part of FND. If it matches the stroke signs above, call 999. For other new or changing symptoms, speak to your GP or neurology team rather than waiting for a physio session.
If you have severe hip pain after a fall or injury, cannot walk or put weight on the leg, or have tingling or loss of feeling in the hip or leg after a fall or injury, the NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E. Do not drive yourself.
After a head injury, such as in a fall, the NHS says to call 999 if, for example, the person has been knocked out and has not woken up, cannot stay awake, has a seizure, has fallen from a height of more than 1 metre or 5 stairs, has problems with their vision or hearing, has clear fluid coming from their ears or nose, has new numbness or weakness, has problems with walking, balance, understanding, speaking or writing, or their behaviour has changed. This is not the full list, so see the NHS head injury page listed in the sources. If you take blood thinners, are being sick or feel dizzy after a head injury, contact NHS 111. Do not drive yourself to A&E.
If you have symptoms but no diagnosis, speak to your GP. Diagnosis of FND comes from a neurologist, and online sessions with us do not replace that.
If you need hands-on therapy or care in person, we cannot provide it by video. Triage at booking tells you honestly if video does not suit you.

Common questions

Can you diagnose FND?

No. FND is diagnosed by a neurologist. We ask for a diagnosis before we start, and if you do not have one, speak to your GP. Before you start, your GP or specialist team must confirm it is safe for you to begin physiotherapy.

Does physiotherapy work for FND?

NHS inform says specialised physiotherapy can be useful and that outcomes vary, with some people benefiting a lot and others continuing to have symptoms. The Physio4FMD trial did not find a difference in its main measure of physical functioning at 12 months, though more people given specialist physiotherapy rated their motor symptoms as improved and it was described as safe and valued. We make no promise of any outcome.

Was Physio4FMD about video physiotherapy?

No. The abstract does not describe video delivery, so the trial is not evidence about our service.

Can a carer or family member join?

Yes. Our service guidance says a family member or carer can join and help get the room ready.

Sources

Book an online assessment

A 60-minute video assessment with an HCPC-registered physiotherapist is £40.

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