March is Brain Injury Awareness Month
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden injury causes damage to the brain. According to the CDC, falls are the most common cause of TBI, specifically in young children under the age of 4 and adults over the age of 65 years old.
Other common causes are blunt force trauma, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, and violent assault. TBIs can range from mild cases(concussions) to severe cases (vegetative state) resulting in cognitive, movement, and behavioral impairments.
Rehabilitation is critical to the recovery process
Following a traumatic brain injury, rehabilitation will play a critical role in the recovery process. Depending on the severity of the injury and each individual patient’s needs, rehab may include (but is not limited to):
All of these forms of therapy are designed to help a person recover from the effects of the injury as best as possible.
Treatment goals and interventions may address:
- increasing patient’s alertness
- the ability to follow commands
- speech/swallowing
- positioning
- maintaining range of motion
- regaining strength
- improving functional transfers
- bed mobility
- ability to walk
- improving balance/coordination
- increasing activity tolerance
- return to daily activities at home and even out in the community
This may be possible with the use of assistive/adaptive equipment as well as with patient/family education. Every person’s needs and abilities following a TBI are different and will change over time. Some people may be able to return to the same level of ability they had before the traumatic brain injury. Others may need lifetime care.
Prevention is key to avoiding traumatic brain injuries
Prevention is key! Remember to always protect the head when engaged in risky activities and limit the amount of participation in these activities.
TBIs can be prevented by wearing seat belts, making smart choices, reducing fall risk, and maintaining a safe environment at home.
For more information about how the therapists at Comprehensive Rehab work with patients who’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, contact us at (877) 530-6356.