Simple rehabilitation exercises after brain injury

  Brain injury is a broad concept that encompasses damage to brain tissue from craniocerebral trauma, cerebrovascular disease, brain tumors and other central nervous system diseases, and patients often experience varying degrees of functional impairment after a period of treatment. For example, memory loss, headache, dizziness, difficulty in concentration, anxiety, apathy, etc. In severe cases, cognitive impairment, aphasia, loss of sense of smell, hemiparesis, coma, or even vegetative survival can occur. Generally, these dysfunctions begin to recover within the early 6 months, and the earlier the time of treatment, the greater the possibility of recovery, followed by smaller progress and gradual adaptation, usually until about 2 years, and still continue to make progress and get better. Correct and timely rehabilitation exercises are vital to the functional recovery of patients.  1. To face the disability correctly The patient’s family should give spiritual encouragement to help the patient actively cooperate with treatment and eliminate negative emotions. Let the patient build up confidence that although the rehabilitation phase may be long, it is fully possible to adjust and or compensate for their lost functions through the joint efforts of myself and medical staff.  2.Appropriate diet and medication guarantee Develop a rehabilitation plan with the help of doctors and therapists, give certain medications targeted to prevent complications while maintaining nutrition, replenishing sufficient calories and proteins, maintaining water and electrolyte balance, and taking central nervous system medications.  3, focus on limb function exercise After brain injury, limb activities are mostly in a low-level action state, often not controlled by sensory stimulation. Limb function can be improved through the following stages: trigger movement by stimulation such as pulling, hitting the tendon or muscle belly, compressing the muscle belly, etc. Encourage early training of flexion movements, which can be assisted by others in the early stages, and as training progresses, train extension exercises. Stimulate muscle activity through visual, auditory, tactile and thermal sensations. Perform pulling or squeezing on the joints. Pay attention to training purposeful movements, such as fetching and feeding. Pay attention to strengthening the muscular connection. Do not forget to train the healthy limb to replace the function of the patient’s limb, such as writing, grooming, etc. It is worth noting that the intensity and frequency of training should be gradually increased.  4.Focus on training daily life Take self-care of life as the training purpose, targeted training. A variety of assistive devices can be applied to help patients, such as enlarging or lengthening the handle of raw appliances, using crutches to help walk.  5.Acupuncture and electrical stimulation Patients who have the conditions can use acupuncture and electrical stimulation to help restore limb function and promote wakefulness. Acupuncture points: Hegu, Neiguan, Waiguan, Quchi, and Shoulder Yu for the upper limbs. The lower limbs can be selected from Fengchi, Guizhong, Yanglingquan, and Foot Sanli. Once a day, choose 3-4 acupuncture points each time, 20 days as a course of treatment.