Neurological rehab can often improve function, reduce symptoms, and improve the well-being of the patient. Injuries, infections, degenerative diseases, structural defects, tumors, and disorders in the circulatory system can impair the nervous system. Some of the conditions that may benefit from neurological rehab may include: vascular disorders, such as ischemic strokes (caused by blood clots), hemorrhagic strokes (caused by bleeding in the brain), subdural hematoma, and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
After hospitalization for stroke, many patients still have problems with physical, speech, and mental functions. Rehabilitation for these problems can be provided in a variety of settings. Rehabilitation programs are critical in helping patients regain lost skills, relearn tasks, and work to be independent again. In many cases, there is great potential for the brain to recover. With diligent rehabilitation, these prospects can get even better. Even if major neurological deficits do not improve, the patients’ functioning can improve as they learn ways to compensate for their problems.
Skeletal muscle can become neurally inhibited or facilitated. These two terms within the context of neural reconnection strictly deal with two-way communication between the brain and a muscle via the central and peripheral nervous system. Inhibition means that neural connection is absent, bypassed, incomplete, weak, or overridden. Facilitation means that neural connection is strong, overactive, or hyperactive.
You may ask, how often does inhibition happen? It is often not so much a start and stop type of condition as much as it can be a constant companion. Muscle inhibition and facilitation happens to everyone, regardless of your activity. Whether you’re a couch potato or an elite athlete or anywhere in between, chances are, you have muscle inhibition and facilitation going on. Even if you’re seeing a professional about this, inhibition and facilitation may still crop up because people often return to old, rehearsed patterns. Thus, neural reconnection can and should be considered in both acute or chronic cases.
Muscle spasms (muscle cramps) are painful contractions and tightening of your muscles. They’re common, involuntary and unpredictable. Although there are steps you can take to prevent a muscle spasm and treat it when it attacks, those methods are not always reliable. Muscle relaxants, stretching and massage are most likely to help.
Spasticity is a condition in which muscles stiffen or tighten, preventing normal fluid movement. The muscles remain contracted and resist being stretched, thus affecting movement, speech and gait. Spasticity is generally caused by damage or disruption to the area of the brain and spinal cord that are responsible for controlling muscle and stretch reflexes. These disruptions can be due to an imbalance in the inhibitory and excitatory signals sent to the muscles, causing them to lock in place. Spasticity can be harmful to growing children as it can affect muscles and joints. People with brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis can have varying degrees of spasticity.
Neuromuscular re-education is a technique used by physical therapists to restore normal body movement patterns. Your nerves and muscles work together to produce movement. Nerves send signals between your muscles and your brain about where, when and how fast to move. Over time, muscle movement patterns are learned and stored in your memory. When nerves or muscles experience damage or injury resulting from trauma and various medical and neurological conditions, muscle movement patterns can be negatively affected. Neuromuscular re-education is one method used by Tucson physical therapists to facilitate the return of normal movement in patients with neuromuscular impairments.
Good posture is also good prevention. If you have poor posture, your bones are not properly aligned, and your muscles, joints, and ligaments take more strain than nature intended. Faulty posture may cause you fatigue, muscular strain, and, in later stages, pain. Many individuals with chronic back pain can trace their problems to years of faulty postural habits. In addition, poor posture can affect the position and function of your vital organs, particularly those in the abdominal region. Good posture also contributes to good appearance; the person with good posture projects poise, confidence and dignity. A healthy back has three natural curves: a slight forward curve in the neck (cervical curve), a slight backward curve in the upper back (thoracic curve), and a slight forward curve in the low back (lumbar curve). Good posture actually means keeping these three curves in balanced alignment.
Balance retraining is a type of physical therapy designed to improve a patient’s steadiness and decrease his or her risk of falling, a major cause of injuries among the elderly and individuals who have inner ear vertigo. Also known as vestibular rehabilitation, balance retraining can promote recovery from chronic dizziness or imbalances caused by changes in the body’s vestibular system. Balance and coordination problems often result from infection, trauma, Meniere’s disease or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Lack of balance can also be due to age-related changes in the musculoskeletal system or neurological system.
Vertigo is dizziness that creates the false sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving. The condition can feel similar to motion sickness, but it’s not the same as lightheadedness. There are two categories of vertigo: peripheral vertigo and central vertigo. Peripheral vertigo is the most commonTrusted Source type of vertigo. It occurs as a result of a problem in the inner ear, or the vestibular nerve, which controls balance. Central vertigo occurs as a result of a problem in the brain. It can be causedTrusted Source by a variety of different conditions, including: stroke, brain tumor, migraine, traumatic brain injury and infection.
