Brain Injury

About Brain Injuries 

Brain injury is damage that results from traumatic or non-traumatic forces to the brain:

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in bruising, torn tissue, bleeding and other damage that follows an impact to the head from a blow, a fall, being shaken, being shot or other external trauma. 
  • A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that affects brain function.
  • Non-traumatic brain injury occurs from internal causes such as infections (meningitis, encephalitis) anoxia or oxygen deprivation (choking, near-drowning, or cardiac arrest), toxic exposures, brain tumors, hydrocephalus or stroke.

 Therapy Achievements appreciates that the brain is very complex, and brain injury affects each person differently.  We are a Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center of Excellence and our comprehensive team of expert rehabilitation therapists will help you navigate the path to recovery following brain injury:

 

Physical Therapy for Brain Injury

  • Physical therapy will address pain, walking, mobility, bracing and equipment needs to help you stay independent. They will prescribe a program of stretches to help prevent pain and help your muscles function at their best and low-impact exercises to help maintain your cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and range of motion for as long as possible.  They will help you adjust to a brace, walker or wheelchair and might suggest devices such as ramps that make it easier for you to get around.

Occupational Therapy for Brain Injury

  • Occupational therapy will help you find ways to remain independent despite hand and arm weakness. They will prescribe adaptive equipment to help you perform activities such as dressing, grooming, eating and bathing.  They also help you modify your home to allow accessibility if you have trouble walking safely.

Speech Therapy for Brain Injury

  • Speech therapy address difficulties with communication, cognition, and safety with swallowing and feeding that may occur due to a brain injury. There are a myriad of solutions and strategies to explore under the guidance of a speech therapist, such as learning new habits to support changes in memory and thinking, adaptive communication methods such as comminication boards, and a detailed plan of care for improving feeding safety and make the most out of your recovery. 

Therapy Achievements understands that recovery from brain injury is a long process and positive change can continue for years after the initial event.  Because of that, our treatment programs are designed to address your needs throughout the continuum of your recovery.  Therapy is available at our clinics in Huntsville, AL and Decatur, AL and we develop individualized plans based on your specific needs and continue to work with you at the frequency you need to meet your goals.

Brain Injury Support Group

We also understand that peer support provides a benefit that extends beyond what therapy can provide.  To that end we partner with the Alabama Head Injury Foundation to enable support group meetings in Huntsville.  The Stroke and Brain Injury Support Group meets the 2nd  Tue of every month and details can be found on our events calendar.