What is neurorehabilitation?

Neurorehabilitation, derived from the combination from the words – Neurology and Rehabilitation, is a treatment programme that designed to improve function and well-being, and ease symptoms of persons with disease, disorders, or injury of the nervous system¹. In general, neurorehabilitation is therapy for the brain.

A non-exhaustive list of people who potentially would require neurorehabilitation are:

Stroke
Brain injury
Spinal cord injury
Multiple sclerosis
Brachial plexus injury
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Muscular dystrophy
Median nerve palsy
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Cerebral palsy
Complex regional pain syndrome
Burns management
Dupuytren’s contracture
Hand mobility issues post hand surgery
Parkinson’s disease

The aim of the treatment programme is to maximise a client’s functional level and independence[1], while also enhancing their overall quality of life, which includes the emotional, physical, and social aspects of their lives.

Neurorehabilitation mostly consists of:

Re-training for performance and participation in activities of daily living
Re-training gross and fine motor skills needed in writing and feeding
Management of stress, anxiety and/or depression, and emotional support
Re-training bladder and bowl movements
Introduce therapeutic activities to improve on muscle range, strength and manage muscle tone
Pain management
Assist to train and prescribe assistive devices to maximise independence and performance in activities of daily living
Education and counselling (nutritional and vocational)

Every treatment programme is unique to each individual and there is a team behind it to ensure therapy objectives and goals are met². Don’t be surprised! Some of those team members are their very own support system! Namely, family members, caregivers or friends.

The multidisciplinary team usually include neurologists and/or neurosurgeon, orthopedist and/or orthopaedic surgeon, rehab specialist, respiratory therapist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech/language therapist, counsellor, and a dietitian to name a few.

At Cygni Advanced Neurorehabilitation Centre, we are dedicated to provide you with occupational therapy services to achieve your goals pertaining to your upper limbs as well as your activities of daily living.

Resources:

[1] John Hopkins Medicine – Neurological Rehabilitation

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/neurological-rehabilitation

[2] Cleveland Clinic – Neurorehabilitation for Brain Health
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/17266-neurorehabilitation-for-brain-health

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