Brain Injury Physiotherapy Edmonton
Recovering from a brain injury requires specialized care and support to regain optimal function and independence. At Granville Physiotherapy, our dedicated team of physiotherapists is committed to guiding you through every step of your recovery journey. We offer personalized brain injury physiotherapy programs tailored to meet your individual needs, whether you’re managing post-concussion symptoms, traumatic brain injury effects, or other neurological challenges. Our brain injury physiotherapy in Edmonton utilizes therapeutic techniques with compassionate care, focusing on improving mobility, restoring cognitive function, and enhancing the overall quality of life.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Its Impact
A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) happens as a result of sudden trauma or blow to the head, disrupting normal brain function. This can result in various physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges depending on the severity and location of the injury. Common effects include impaired motor skills, difficulties with speech and language, memory problems, and changes in behaviour or mood. At Granville Physiotherapy, we specialize in TBI rehabilitation, offering tailored physiotherapy programs designed to improve mobility, cognitive function, and overall well-being.
Symptoms of TBI
The symptoms of a TBI can vary widely how severe the injury is and where it’s located. Common symptoms include:
- Physical Symptoms: Headaches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, and loss of balance.
- Sensory Symptoms: Visual blurring and ear ringing, altered taste, changes in the ability to smell, and sensitivity to light or sound.
- Cognitive Symptoms: Memory or concentration problems, mood changes or mood swings, feeling depressed or anxious, and difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual.
- Severe TBI Symptoms: Loss of consciousness, persistent headaches, frequent vomiting, seizures, dilation of one or both pupils, difficulty waking from sleep, weakness or numbness in the extremities, and profound confusion.
Comprehensive Physiotherapy Treatments for Brain Injury at Granville Physiotherapy
Recovering from a brain injury can pose significant challenges that require specialized care and a tailored approach. At Granville Physiotherapy, we offer a range of physiotherapy treatments specifically designed to support and enhance recovery from brain injuries. Our team is committed to supporting patients in improving their independence, enhancing their quality of life, and achieving their rehabilitation goals.
The first step in our brain injury rehabilitation program is a comprehensive assessment to understand the severity of the injury and identify specific challenges. This enables our therapists to create a personalized treatment plan tailored to the needs of TBI patients. Our assessment process includes:
- Medical History Review: Understanding the patient’s medical background, including the nature and extent of the brain injury, previous treatments, and overall health.
- Neurological Examination: Evaluating cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, problem-solving abilities, and mental clarity.
- Physical Assessment: Assessing motor skills, muscle strength, coordination, balance, and range of motion using Fugl-Meyer Assessment.
- Functional Ability Evaluation: Analyzing the patient’s ability to perform daily activities and identifying any limitations or challenges.
- Vestibular Assessment: Checking for dizziness, balance disorders, and other vestibular issues using the saccade, Romberg, and Dix–Hallpike maneuver that may result from the brain injury.
- Sensory Evaluation: Smooth Pursuit Torsion Test is used to measure sensory responses, including vision, hearing, and tactile sensations.
Our neurorehabilitation exercises are designed to help restore function and improve the connections between the brain and body. These exercises focus on enhancing motor skills, coordination, and muscle strength, supporting overall recovery.
- Motor Skill Exercises: These exercises target the fine and gross motor skills that may be impaired due to a brain injury. Activities like finger tapping, hand squeezing, and using therapy putty help improve dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
- Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES): This technique involves using electrical impulses to trigger muscle contractions, aiding in the improvement of muscle strength and re-educating muscles affected by brain injury.
- Mirror Therapy: This innovative technique involves using a mirror to create a reflection of the unaffected limb, helping to improve motor function and reduce pain in the affected limb through visual feedback.
For patients experiencing dizziness or balance issues due to a brain injury, vestibular rehabilitation offers a solution. This therapy involves specific exercises aimed at reducing dizziness and improving balance, helping patients regain their equilibrium.
Gaze Stabilization Exercises:
- X1 Viewing: Involves focusing on a single target while moving the head side to side or up and down. This helps improve gaze stability and reduce dizziness.
- X2 Viewing: Similar to X1 but involves moving the head and the target in opposite directions. This enhances coordination between eye and head movements.
Manual therapy, including massage and joint mobilization, helps relieve muscle tension, minimize pain, and promote relaxation. These techniques support the overall rehabilitation process by enhancing comfort and improving circulation.
- Myofascial Release: This technique involves applying gentle and consistent pressure to the myofascial connective tissue to alleviate pain and restore movement.
- Trigger Point Therapy: Targeting specific areas of muscle tightness or “knots” to relieve tension and pain.
- Joint Mobilization: Passive movements are applied to the joints to increase the range of motion, minimize stiffness, and improve joint function.
- Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF): Techniques to enhance both passive and active range of motion, often involving stretching and functional movement patterns.
Our functional training focuses on assisting patients to regain the ability to perform regular tasks and activities. This training is tailored to the individual’s goals and daily routines, ensuring that they can return to their normal life as smoothly as possible.
- Cognitive-Physical Tasks: Combining cognitive challenges with physical tasks, such as navigating a route while remembering a list of items, to enhance multitasking and brain-body coordination.
Compassionate Care for Brain Injury With Granville Physiotherapy
At Granville Physiotherapy, we specialize in comprehensive care for brain injuries, including effective concussion rehabilitation. Our physiotherapy team is committed to enhancing your recovery journey with personalized TBI treatment plans tailored to your unique needs. Our brain injury physiotherapy in Edmonton focuses on restoring cognitive abilities, improving mobility, and promoting overall well-being to help you regain independence and confidence.
Ready to take proactive steps towards recovery? Contact Granville Physiotherapy today to book your consultation with our skilled physiotherapists. Whether you’re recovering from a recent concussion or managing long-term symptoms, our expertise in physiotherapy for concussion can make a significant difference in your recovery process.