Rebuilding After Brain Injury
Saturday, October 22, 2011
In addition to nontraumatic brain injuries caused by aneurysms and strokes, there are approximately 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries in the United States that contribute to one-third of injury-related deaths each year. All injuries generate a unique set of effects felt in each system of the body; therefore, all injuries require individualized treatment, much like the specialized treatment provided at Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation.
Photo: Amy Mims, O.T., works with Nate Joslin on vision therapy activities.
Brain injuries are characterized by the damage done at a cellular level to the axon nerve fibers that form the electrical network within the brain. In the case of a traumatic injury, impact or penetration can lead to bruising or a shearing of those fibers. During a nontraumatic injury, cancer, hemorrhaging or lack of oxygen, pressure or swelling can be created in the brain that may lead to similar tears.
An Individualized Approach
Because brain injuries vary from case to case, rehabilitation at Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation’s Brain Injury Program is tailored to each patient’s diverse needs with the ultimate goal of providing restorative and supportive methods to maximize his or her level of independence.
“It’s difficult to predict the specific impact a brain injury will have on a person,” says Tod Cain, Administrative Director of Clinical Services at Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation. “In evaluating a patient, Siskin Hospital assesses the patient’s abilities, impairments and support system, as well as a variety of other related issues, and then creates a treatment plan based on that information.”
The continuum of care begins with inpatient rehabilitation in the Brain Injury Unit. A brain injury treatment team operating under the leadership of a physiatrist evaluates each patient. Together with the family, these specialized professionals utilize a wide variety of interventions to achieve the best possible outcomes. The treatment team may include some or all of the following professionals: rehabilitation nurses, speech-language pathologists, clinical nutritionists/dieticians, psychologists/neuro-psychologists, chaplains, vocational counselors, case managers, exercise physiologists, and physical, occupational, respiratory and recreational therapists.
The goals of the program are specific to each patient and injury, but overall are aimed at restoring and enhancing the patient’s maximum level of independence, ultimately returning him or her to the community. Through its wide range of programs, Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation offers comprehensive rehabilitation at every level of treatment, from initial therapy to returning the patient to the community, school or work. A full continuum of care is critical to a successful outcome, and Siskin Hospital works to offer a variety of opportunities that meet the varying needs of brain injury patients.
Step By Step
As patients become medically stable and able to return home, Siskin Hospital offers several options for the continuation of therapy. The Day Hospital Program is set up for patients who are living at home and need to continue the intensive level of therapy that was provided in the Inpatient Program. The Outpatient Therapy Services programs offer the same level of high-quality therapies and treatment options, while providing a less intensive schedule.
“Siskin Hospital houses a number of different resources to help patients transition back into the community,” says Cain. “Each program is oriented to returning a patient to his or her normal routine and role(s) in life.”
The Community Re-Entry Services Program emphasizes skills training through work preparation and community-based activities, helping the individual develop the skills necessary to return to the workforce. The Supported Employment Program guides patients as they return to work with career and resumé counseling, as well as job placement and coaching. Support groups hosted at Siskin Hospital by the Chattanooga Area Brain Injury Association continue to offer emotional support and camaraderie, in addition to community-based resource information. Finally, the Fitness Center at Siskin Hospital provides a state-of-the-art fitness facility for patients to continue rebuilding and improving their health in a safe and encouraging environment.
For more information, please call
(423) 634-1200 or visit www.SiskinRehab.org.
MD News July/August 2011, Tennessee Valley
In order to restore and enhance the patient's maximum level of independence in his walking and general movement abilities the Tutor system is a very valuable device.When TBI and other debilitating diseases occur and recovery is progressing the Tutor system (HandTutor, ArmTutor, LegTutor, 3DTutor) has shown much success in rehabilitation of joint movement. The Tutor system consists of ergonomic wearable devices together with powerful dedicated rehabilitation software. The system is indicated for patients in rehabilitation centers, private clinics and the home where it can be supported by telerehabilitation. It is designed for those who have head, trunk, upper and lower extremity movement dysfunction.
The system consists of motivating and challenging games that allow the patient to practice isolated and/or interjoint coordination exercises. Controlled exercise practice will help to prevent the development of compensatory movement patterns. The dedicated software allows the therapist to fully customize the exercises to the patient's movement ability. In addition the therapist can objectively and quantitatively evaluate and report on the treatment progress. The rehabilitation system optimizes the patient's motor, sensory and cognitive performance and allows the patient to better perform everyday functional tasks to improve their quality of life. The Tutor system is FDA and CE certified.
What a terrific program! As a survivor, I wish that something like that were available in 1976! To help both survivors and their loved ones, I wrote "Brain Injury Rewiring for Survivors: A LIfeline to New Connections" and the companion volume for loved ones (Idyll Arbor, 2010).
I wonder if you can add these to you resource list? For more info, go to www.rewiring.org and my publisher's site, braininjuryrewiring.com to read book reviews.
Eager to help,
survivor-author-triathlete, Carolyn Dolen