How Can Physical Therapy help a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
The physical therapist will work with the patient, family, or caregivers to develop an individualized care plan and goals addressing any functional limitations or difficulties associated with the injury.
For more severe injuries, Physical Therapy may include education or assistance on positioning to avoid bed sores, hand-on stretching, and/or techniques for promoting posture, flexibility, environmental response, and communication as the patient's condition allows.
For less severe injuries or if the patient is able to more active, Physical Therapy may include exercise, functional task or activity training, and patient-specific vestibular therapy interventions as needed.
Common Goals of Physical Therapy include:
- Cognitive participation in daily activities, such as maintaining alertness, focusing, and following commands
- Improving muscle tone and joint mobility after inactivity
- Functional mobility, such as bed transfers and sitting and standing safely
- Maintaining balance and coordination with walking, standing, or while completing daily tasks
- Strengthening and building endurance to help restore daily activity participation
- Return to sports and fitness activities
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The link between falling and Traumatic Brain Injury:
According to the CDC,
- In 2014, four in five (81%) TBI-related Emergency Room visits in adults aged 65 years and older were caused by falls
- Falls were the leading cause of TBI-related hospitalizations among children 0 to 17 and adults aged 55 years and older.
- Falls were the leading cause of TBI-related death for adults aged 65 years or older.
- In a more recent study from the CDC, Fall-related TBI deaths increased from 3.86 per 100,000 individuals in 2008 to 4.52 per 100,000 people in 2017, representing a 17% increase.
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