Types Of Brain Injury Rehabilitation
The road to recovery after a traumatic brain injury is often long and arduous. Victims require a number of different specialist rehabilitation treatments and techniques to address their physical, mental and emotional recovery after the traumatic event.
There are therefore a number of different phases involved with treating brain injury patients with the aim of restoring the ability to perform basic daily activities and return to normal daily living as much as possible. However, it is important to note that a brain injury is a life-changing event and that it is necessary to expect some physical and psychological changes that will have long-term or even permanent effects on it’s victims.
1. Acute In-Hospital Brain Injury Rehabilitation
This is the first and most important step of brain injury rehabilitation and begins the moment a patient is declared medically stable and able to undergo treatment. This phase normally takes place in a hospital or rehabilitation center. Each brain injury patient will receive a tailored rehabilitation programme that is designed to meet their specific needs.
For example, some patients may suffer more from physical setbacks and therefore require more physical or occupational therapy. Other patients may require rehabilitation that is aimed at restoring cognitive function. In-patient rehabilitation is an intensive process that involves a variety of different medical experts in order to achieve the best results.
2. Long-Term Out-Patient Brain Injury Rehabilitation
As stated above, rehabilitation after a brain injury is a long and difficult journey and after the intensive in-hospital treatment programme has been completed, patients require ongoing care and treatment. This is the second phase of rehabilitation and normally begins once the patient is declared medically fit to return home.
Medically fit does not necessarily mean that the patient has resumed some or all function and may still have severe physical or cognitive problems. This phase of therapy is less intensive but very necessary to provide continued therapy and treatment to continue to restore and return as much function as possible.
3. Alternative Brain Injury Rehabilitation
There has been great success through providing alternative therapies to assist in the physical and cognitive rehabilitation for brain injury victims. Activities such as horse riding, canoeing, hiking and other outdoor pursuits have been increasingly successful in the ongoing treatment of brain injury victims. While these activities do focus on restoring physical and cognitive function, they also play an important role in giving patients a sense of achievement and providing them with hope and courage to continue on the road to recovery.
