Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can be devastating for both the individual and their family, and can be a life changing event.

TBI can be the result of sustaining a blow or insult to the head e.g. during a car accident, a bullet or other object penetrating the skull and into the brain matter, or from a simple fall where the individual bangs their head on the ground. The consequences can be immediate, with symptoms occurring within seconds of the injury, or can slowly develop over a period of days or weeks as blood leaks from the damaged brain area causing the brain to swell slowly against the skull.

Effects of a traumatic brain injury can vary hugely, depending upon the type of injury sustained and the medical attention received immediately after the injury.

Physical problems can include hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears), headaches, seizures, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, decreased smell or taste, speech and language problems, changes to normal body functions, reduced strength, balance and coordination in the body, arms, and legs, sensory loss, and chronic pain and altered muscle tone.

Cognition (thinking skills) can be affected following a brain injury and problems vary depending upon the location and severity of the injury. Such problems can include perceptual difficulties, an altered awareness of one's surroundings, attention to tasks, memory, reasoning, problem solving, and executive functioning (e.g. goal setting, planning, initiating, self-awareness, self-monitoring and evaluation).

Communication may be affected depending upon the location of the brain injury, but can, in these cases, affect the ability to express ideas through speech or writing, affect social communication such as tone of voice, appropriate response, taking turns to talk, and response to facial and body expressions during conversation with someone. During conversation, an affected individual can appear to display lack of emotion or may overreact inappropriately to a comment. Such effects can be extremely frustrating for both the affected individual and also their family and friends who are not used to this altered personality in someone that they know well, and do not often know how to respond to such emotional changes.

Physiotherapy input: Physiotherapy rehabilitation is vital following a brain injury in order to achieve the maximum potential from recovery. Given that the brain is ‘plastic’ i.e. it can adapt and effectively re-programme to varying degrees following damage, the correct physiotherapy input can significantly improve both the physical and mental outcome for an individual.

Traumatic brain injury is unlike any other field of rehabilitation. The injuries sustained are usually more severe and take longer to recover from than other types of neurological conditions. Improvements are often rapid to begin with during the immediate few weeks post injury, followed by a slower period of recovery over the coming months to years. Although the majority of a person’s recovery is achieved within the first 12 months following the injury, recent research has demonstrated that significant improvements can be made for up to 5-10 years.

Physiotherapy can help with:

 - Reducing muscle spasms, contractures, stiff joints and pain

- Restoring muscle strength and joint stability

- Improving balance (in sitting and standing), co-ordination and normal patterns of movement

- Improving walking – Retraining functional tasks e.g. sit-stand, turning in bed, activities of daily living

- Reducing the risk of falls – Restoring independence and quality of life Training and teaching of family members / carers who may need to be involved in the rehabilitation and long term caring of the individual. E.g. manual handling, bed/chair/bath/toilet transfers, positioning techniques and also the maintenance of strength, co-ordination and flexibility of tissues through specific home exercises.

At PEAK Physiotherapy, we are experienced in dealing with such significant brain injuries and we can help you get back to being as independent as possible with a programme designed to suit your presentation of symptoms and your specific goals.

We can work with you in your home, along- side your family / carers, or within our designated neuro-rehabilitation clinic (Iveridge Hall), depending upon what is most appropriate for you. We are also happy to liaise and work alongside Solicitors, Insurers and Case Managers should they be involved in the process.

For all enquiries, please click here or telephone Cathy Preston on 07908 684440 or Sarah Joice on 07908 684441.

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