HOW IT CAN BENEFIT YOU
The brain has an incredible ability to adapt to adversity and help the body recover, or at least better manage, even the most debilitating of conditions. If you have recently suffered a neurological injury or have been diagnosed with a neurological disease such as Alzheimer’s or multiple sclerosis (MS), myotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) and Guillian Barre syndrome, the impact on your everyday life can be severe. Patients with these conditions can suffer challenges with mobility and even more significant losses in quality of life, compounding the adverse effects.
Fortunately, neurological physical therapy has been shown to yield remarkable improvements in patients. This form of treatment is specifically designed to regain some level of independent movement and motor function and build confidence in a patient’s balancing abilities.
5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT NEUROLOGICAL REHAB THERAPY
Neurological physical therapy and occupational therapy offers benefits to a wide range of potential patients suffering from neurological issues. Here are 5 things to know about this type of therapy, how it benefits patients and what kind of conditions it is best at treating:
More strength: A key focus in neurological physical therapy is muscle strengthening in areas which may have been injured, weakened, or experience chronic pain. This can take the form of extension exercises, weight training and other techniques aimed at directly targeting areas which need improvement. Working to increase strength decreases the likelihood of further injury, improve mobility from one room to another or one setting to another such as sitting to standing and can help improve a patient’s overall quality of life.
Better endurance: Primarily of what we call “gait training,” this practice is all about improving a person’s ability to walk independently with improved posture alignment. Focusing on movement and body posture, this therapy may also incorporate mobility aids such as walkers. Gradually, these exercises work towards enabling the patient to walk for more sustained periods of time.
Improved balance: This goes hand-in-hand with gait training and focuses on developing techniques for improved balance in a patient who may be prone to conditions like vertigo or frequent falling. By working to better control balance, the risk of recurring injury is reduced, risk of falls is reduced, and the patient’s confidence in their own ability to walk can be significantly improved.
Who can benefit: Anyone who has experienced a neurological injury or been diagnosed with a neurological condition, may be a candidate for this form of physical therapy. We often see patients who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, spinal, or brain tumors, as well as those who have recently experienced events such as a stroke. Neuro rehab physical and occupational therapy helps with activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing.
Are you a candidate: If you are finding that a neurological condition or injury is directly impacting your quality of life, then you may be a candidate for neurological physical therapy. Some of the factors which often impact quality of life for our patients are dizziness, balance issues, difficulty walking and difficulty performing exercise routines which would otherwise improve strength.
Like all forms of rehabilitation therapy, neurological physical and occupational therapy are about enabling a patient to improve their quality of life and regain some level of independence. In this profession, we see injuries and conditions as setbacks which can be properly managed with the right therapies. Indianapolis Rehab Hospital offers a variety of treatments from a dedicated and well-trained staff. Contact us today to learn more.