If your child has suffered from a tramatic brain injury (TBI), is important to ask your doctor about getting a Physical Therapy evaluation right away to assess areas of difficulty, current function after a head injury and start the rehabilitation process towards your child’s baseline level of function.
Traumatic brain injuries can range widely in their severity from mild to severe. If moderate or severe, your doctor will likely recommend Physical Therapy along with other specialists to provide specific rehabilitation. However, mild TBIs can also benefit from Physical Therapy, so advocate for yourself and your child if you are seeing them struggle with functions of daily life or activities they used to enjoy.
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Potential areas of concern that physical therapy can assist with:
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- visual problems (difficulty reading or tracking things with their eyes)
- dizziness
- memory problems
- neck pain and guarding
- muscle tightness
- difficulty with activities or sports they used to enjoy
- other symptoms such as nausea, difficulty with loud noises or bright lights.
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The most progress can be made in the first 6 months after a brain injury, but children’s brains and bodies are typically quicker and better at bouncing back than adults.
Physical Therapy will help your child to gradually and safely return to their normal activities by giving them activities to work on in the clinic and at home, strategies to help them manage symptoms, and providing guidelines to monitor their safety.
Have questions? Give our office a call! We are here to help.