Rehabilitation for Brain Injury

Brain injury is a serious condition that can occur as a result of trauma to the head, such as a blow or jolt, or from an object penetrating the skull. Brain injuries can vary in severity, ranging from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

Why does brain injury happen?

Brain injury can be classified into traumatic and non-traumatic injuries. The reasons for each type of injury are as follows:

Traumatic Brain Injuries:

• Physical damages caused by falling
• Traffic and occupational accidents
• Gunshot injuries
• Assault

Non-Traumatic Brain Injuries:

• Damages caused by brain tumor
• Infection of cerebral cortex or white matter (meningitis or encephalitis)
• Poisoning from stove gas, other gases or lead
• Asphyxiation of brain because of cardiac arrest (hypoxic, anoxic ischemic brain damage)
• Degenerative neurological diseases like Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Huntington

What are the symptoms of brain injury?

Symptoms of brain injury can vary depending on the severity of the injury. Symptoms may include:

• Loss and clouding of consciousness
• Paraesthesia in arms and legs
• Loss of strength
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Difficulty with balance or coordination

Some symptoms, such as potential loss of strength in arms and legs, can be detected at first glance. However, brain injury can also cause mental, emotional, and behavioral symptoms that may be difficult for patients and people around them to understand.

Can Brain Injury be treated?

Yes, while the deaths caused by traumatic brain injury have been diminished with the advancement of surgical and emergency support methods, the cognitive and physical function losses caused by brain injury can be treated with the methods of:

• Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
• Robotic Rehabilitation
• Neuro-Rehabilitation

In order to benefit from the rehabilitation, the patients:

• Should have a stable medical situation (they should elude the life-threatening risk)
• Should have a learning capacity
• Should participate in the rehabilitation applications
• Should tolerate the treatment process sufficiently.

It is important to prepare the rehabilitation room to help the healing of the patient. Here are some key factors to consider:

• The hygiene and privacy of the room should be ensured.
• The patients must stay in a single room if possible.
• A quiet environment should be ensured to enable the patient to rest between the therapy sessions.

At Next New Step, we specialize in brain injury rehabilitation and helping patients recover from these challenging conditions.

How is the rehabilitation of brain injury?

The rehabilitation of brain injury typically involves a comprehensive physical therapy and rehabilitation program. Here are some key aspects of brain injury rehabilitation:

Starting the process of physical therapy and rehabilitation at the early period is one of the most significant factors in re-gaining the abilities of walking, using hand and arm, eating, speaking, and social abilities.

Brain injury causes different problems for each patient and there is no common standard program to be applied to everyone.

The aim of the rehabilitation program is to make patients reach their personal independence and return to social life.

Our team of healthcare professionals works closely with each patient to develop a customized treatment plan that addresses their individual needs and goals. We believe that every patient deserves the best possible care and attention, and we are committed to helping our patients recover from brain injuries and regain their quality of life.

Brain injury rehabilitation program

In the early stages, it is important for the patient to position properly and change position regularly. To the patients who are unconscious or unable to move their arms and legs, passive joint movement exercises and stretches are applied.

As the patients regain some functions active rehabilitation program starts. Patient is taken to the sitting position as early as possible. With the increase in trunk control standing and walking exercices are started.

For the patients who have difficulty speaking or swallowing, speech & swallowing rehabilitation begins.

In the brain injury rehabilitation, robotic physical therapy devices is use in every step. Robotic rehabilitation is beneficial to heal the patient faster and regaining more functions. Most common robotic devices we use at clinic:

• Robotic bed,
• Gait robot,
• Hand arm robot,
• Antigravity treadmill,
• Computerized balance system

Who might get a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?

• Anyone can experience a TBI, but nearly 80% of them occur in males.
• TBI may occur due to various reasons. For example, falls, blows to the head, work accidents and armed attacks. Traffic accidents are the most important cause of head trauma and traumatic brain injury.
• TBI can be seen in young people due to traffic accidents or in older people due to balance disorder and tendency to fall.
• Infants can also experience TBIs from incidents like falling from a bed or changing table, or more rarely, from abuse.
• People involved in certain professions or activities have a higher risk of TBIs. These include:
  • Athletes (both recreational and professional).
  • Construction workers.
  • Military members.
  • Police and law enforcement.

What are the types of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)?

• The severity of a TBI is determined by factors such as loss of consciousness, neurological symptoms at the time of the injury, memory loss surrounding the injury, and abnormalities on head CT or brain MRI.

Types and grades of TBI include:

• Mild concussion (mTBI).
• Moderate TBI.
• Severe TBI.
• Uncomplicated or complicated TBI.
• Closed or open TBI.

What causes a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?

• A TBI can occur when there’s a violent, hard hit to the head. This can lead to changes in the brain’s chemical and energy use to compensate for the injury. These changes can result in symptoms like headaches, sensitivity to light/sound, and confusion.
• In mild TBIs, these changes are temporary and don’t cause permanent damage. However, with more severe injuries, these changes can be prolonged and result in damage to brain cells, leading to brain swelling and further damage.

Traffic Accidents, Traumatic Brain Injury and Multi-traumas

Due to traffic accidents in the world every year;

• Approximately 1.5 million people die, 
• 34 million people suffer from traumatic brain injury.

Brain injury due to traffic accidents is most common in young people and active adults, that is, between the ages of 16 and 55.

Head trauma and traumatic brain injury in traffic accidents are the biggest causes of death and disability in accidents. Almost 70% of deaths due to traffic accidents are due to traumatic brain injury.

What are the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?

• Loss of consciousness.
• Coma.

Symptoms of mild TBIs can vary and might manifest immediately after the injury or in the days following. 

Some symptoms include:

• Behavior or mood changes.
• Memory problems.
• Convulsions or seizures.
• Dilated pupils or blurred vision.
• Dizziness.
• Fatigue.
• Headaches.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Restlessness or agitation.
• Sensitivity to light and smell.
• Excessive sleep or insomnia.
• Slurred speech.
• For infants and children, symptoms might also include inconsolable crying or refusal to eat, drink, or breastfeed.