Brain injuries are complex. They vary in their severity and symptoms; no two injuries are exactly the same. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, someone in the United States sustains a brain injury every 9 seconds.1 Brain injuries can affect not only the person who suffers them but their family and friends as well.
Types of Brain Injury
There are two types of brain injury, including:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) – Moderate or severe injury caused by a blow to the head, such as from a fall, car accident, assault or sports.
Non-Traumatic Brain Injury – A non-TBI can result from an illness, oxygen deprivation, metabolic disorders, aneurysms, cardiac arrest, near-drowning experience, etc. In short, it includes injuries to the brain that are not caused by an external physical force to the head.
At Florida Rehabilitation Hospital, our team of specialized physicians, therapists, and nurses will collaborate to develop an individualized plan of care and deliver the best rehabilitation service to people who have a traumatic or non-traumatic brain injury.
The rehab treatments can help improve the restoration of memory and functional activities that were once part of everyday life. The severity of brain injury will often dictate the types of therapies and treatments, as every brain injury is not the same.
Our team includes the following in a brain injury rehab program:
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician who assesses the level of function relative to the brain injury
Speech and Language Pathologist or Speech Therapist, who might use various speech and cognitive therapies to improve any communication and thinking barriers.
Occupational Therapists may also address cognitive challenges, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills that affect independence with activities of daily living.
Physical Therapists will work closely with the rest of the treatment and medical team to address mobility, coordination, strength, and other issues as needed.
Rehab Trained Nurses care for our patients for both the patient’s rehab and medical needs during the patient’s stay with us
Case Managers will collaborate with the care team, patient and family to ensure the best resources are in place once the patient leaves our hospital.
A Story of Resilience
After suffering a brain injury two years ago, Derrick turned to a Nobis inpatient rehab hospital to recover. Derrick had difficulty walking due to his myoclonus, random muscle jerks/movements that would knock him off balance and cause him to fall randomly. This was causing him great stress. Derrick’s therapy team developed a plan that helped him learn safe ways to transfer and use a wheelchair around his home.
He also learned calming strategies aimed at calming his overactive limbic system, education on identifying stressors and triggers, and use of relaxation and deep breathing exercises for controlling his extraneous movements. Derrick is a perfect example of how the mind/body connection is vital. Derrick has since learned that his random movements were something that he could control. When given the time, education and many successful trials, he was able to take control of his body through taking control of his reactions to life’s stressors and muscle movements.
If you have experienced a brain injury, you may be searching for brain injury rehabilitation resources. At Florida Rehabilitation Hospital, we specialize in helping those with all types of brain injuries. Learn more about brain injury rehab on our website. Our teams of therapists are here to address your unique needs and create a personalized rehabilitation therapy plan to help you reach your goals. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you or your loved one lead a more productive life.
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