A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can happen anytime someone suffers a hard bump, jolt or blow to the head. A TBI occurs when an injury, caused by incidents such as car crashes or slip-and-fall accidents, disrupts the normal function of the brain. While some victims of TBI only sustain mild injuries that heal within days, others experience severe long-term or even permanent symptoms. For these victims, rehabilitation will be needed to lessen health problems and cope with new physical limitations.
There are many types of rehabilitation that are needed following a serious TBI because a brain injury can affect you in so many different ways. Victims of brain trauma have their ability to walk, talk and think impaired by their injuries. The right type of rehabilitation plan must be created to fit the unique symptoms of each patient.
Here are a few examples of traditional and alternative physical therapy services that are commonly utilized to treat traumatic brain injuries:
- Physical therapy Physical therapists help patients build strength and mobility to minimize or eliminate pain.
- Occupational therapy The goal of occupational therapy is to help victims of TBI regain daily life skills and adjust to physical and cognitive changes.
- Cognitive therapy This can help patients move toward overcoming difficulties by identifying and removing inaccurate thinking and poor behavior.
- Speech therapy Speech-language pathologists help diagnose, assess and treat issues with speech, communication and cognitive-communication.
- Neurobehavioral therapy This form of therapy is typically reserved for victims of brain trauma who are having trouble adjusting to life after the accident.
- Vocational rehabilitation This form of rehab can help a patient overcome barriers to return to work.
- Neuropsychological testing It’s important to research how the brain functions after an accident to diagnose and treat specific deficits.
- Meditation Some patients find it helpful to learn to relax and calm their mind.
- Craniosacral therapy This is an alternative medicine treatment in which pain is relieved by gentle manipulations of the skull.
- Hyperbaric oxygen treatments This treatment allows more oxygen into the body to help promote healing.
Not every form of therapy or alternative treatments is necessary for every brain injury, but many patients benefit from a rehabilitation program involving a number of different specialists. Unfortunately, not all necessary rehabilitation services are covered by insurance. That is why victims of traumatic brain injuries often have it in their best interest to seek help in obtaining fair compensation for their treatments from the at-fault party. An experienced New York brain injury lawyer can help victims better understand their options. Contact Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP at (212) 986-7353 to discuss your situation further.