Neuro Rehabilitation
According to figures from 2014, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that motorcycle riders are 27 times more likely to die and 6 times more likely to be injured in an accident than a driver or occupant of a regular vehicle. Head, neck, and back injury risk is also greatly increased because of the exposed rider. Injuries to these areas are the leading cause of death in traffic accidents. If not fatal, these injuries are still very serious and drastically alter a victim’s life.
What is Neuro Rehabilitation?
Neuro rehab is a combination of specialized therapy and physical medicine to treat individuals with injuries or diseases that affect the nervous system often involving spinal injuries. The goal of the treatments is to retrain the brain to perform the functions that have been lost or weakened. This can require different neurons to make connections and learn to control those parts of the body that were controlled by the damaged cells. A patient may need to work with several different types of therapists to achieve this. A physical therapist specialized in neuro-rehab will work with balance, muscle strength, and gross motor skills such as throwing, catching and walking. Occupational therapists will work with fine motor skills for activities such as writing, brushing your teeth, and other important daily skills. Speech therapists help restore normal speech skills and also swallowing for those with neurological damage to the mouth and throat.
Examples of Therapy
Mirror Therapy
Patients who have lost the function of one limb or even an entire side of their bodies can use mirrors to help train their bodies to regain motion. This method tricks the brain into thinking it is actually doing the work. A therapist will place a mirror to cover the affected side positioned so the patient can see only the side of their body that works properly and its reflection. When the patient moves the strong side, their brain thinks that both sides are moving. This visual stimulus greatly increases activity in spinal motor neurons and can speed up recovery.
Balance Training
There are physical therapists and clinics that specialize entirely in improving balance. Strengthening the legs and core can help maintain balance, especially when weakened by neurological damage. Therapists are trained to look for weaknesses in specific muscles and will prescribe exercises that will target the muscles that need strengthening without overworking them. Working on static balance, which involves no movement and dynamic balance, which is balance while moving, require different techniques. Improving both areas can greatly increase the quality of life and decrease the risk of injury.
Fine Motor Skills
Many fine motor skills may be lost after a traumatic injury to the head, neck, or back. Occupational therapists will work with hand-eye coordination to help bring those fine motor skills up to a level where normal activities are possible. Sometimes this involves playing certain games such as Jenga where a steady hand and sensory feedback are important for success. Fiddling with tweezers, threading nuts and bolts, or picking things up with different fingers are also activities used in therapy. Visual cues and memory exercises can also fall under the realm of occupational therapy as well as physical therapy and help with recovery.
Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer
Often, these treatments are for injuries caused by the negligence of someone else. Make sure you have sought help and advice from experienced injury lawyers. You may be entitled to compensation to cover expenses for your pain, suffering, and recovery costs. Watch this video to learn how to choose a personal injury lawyer.
Roseville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Roseville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer. Treatment for brain injuries can cost millions of dollars. If you or a loved one has sustained head, spinal cord or any injury from a motorcycle or vehicle accident please call 916-921-6400 for free and helpful advice. Or, call 800-404-5400 free of charge.
I have helped people and families from Roseville with personal injury and motor vehicle accident cases for 35 years.
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You can find me as a listed member of the Million Dollar Advocates. This list comprises the best trial lawyers in the USA. Each lawyer has won case settlements and verdicts of at least a million dollars.
We invite you to look over the Previous Verdicts and Settlements of our injury lawyers for more information on past cases.
I am also the creator of AutoAccident.com, one of Northern California’s most informative websites for motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, and personal injuries.
Image Source: By Bodystreet – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33304437
Sources:
http://www.physiotherapy-treatment.com/neuro-rehab.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurorehabilitation
https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/motorcycles
http://www.physio-pedia.com/Mirror_Therapy
http://www.physio-pedia.com/Balance
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