Physiotherapy after a brain injury at home

A brain injury changes the shape of daily life, not just for the person who sustained it, but for everyone around them. In Australia, more than 450,000 people are living with a brain injury, and nearly three-quarters are under 65. Behind every one of those numbers is a person and a family working out how to get through the next appointment, the next meal, the next attempt at a task that used to be automatic.

An acquired brain injury (ABI) is any damage to the brain that occurs after birth, whether from a fall, stroke, lack of oxygen, infection or degenerative disease, while a traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers specifically to acquired damage caused by an external force, such as a blow to the head or a traffic accident. In other words, every traumatic brain injury is an acquired brain injury, but not every acquired brain injury is traumatic.

The impact of a brain injury depends on which parts of the brain were affected and how significantly. It may impact memory, planning, organisation, judgement, behaviour, mood, patience, mobility, pain levels or sleep, to name just a few of the many possible ramifications.

Due to that wide variation, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to brain injury rehabilitation. Therapy must be tailored to each person’s particular challenges, interests and goals – though those goals often involve regaining as much independence as possible.

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Mobile allied health for brain injury support

Physiotherapy is an integral part of brain injury rehabilitation, but getting to the clinic isn’t always easy. It can involve organising transport, navigating the walk from the car, dealing with bright lights and busy places, and then having the stamina for the physio session itself. Fatigue is common after a brain injury, making it important to spend your limited energy wisely.

At-home physiotherapy is ideal for such situations. When you’re not spending your energy on travel, you have more left for your physio exercises (and for other things that matter to you).

There’s another benefit too. Mobile physiotherapy allows your physiotherapist to see where your recovery is happening – your home. That means your physio can help you practice stairs using your own staircase. When we’re right there with you, it’s easier to identify small changes that may help you, such as putting a handrail on both sides or improving the lighting.

Physical rehab for mobility, coordination and dignity at home

If your movements have been affected by your brain injury, physiotherapy may be recommended to help retrain your gait, balance and stability, and rebuild your muscle strength and tone.

We draw on evidence-based approaches, including:

Restorative strategies – exercises aimed at helping the brain reactivate and “rewire” itself, working towards regaining movements and abilities similar to before the injury.
Compensatory strategies – finding new ways to complete everyday tasks using your existing strengths and abilities, such as using your unaffected arm or leg for dressing or personal care while the other side continues to recover.
Preventative strategies – exercises and techniques that protect your overall health and reduce the risk of complications, such as breathing exercises that keep your chest and lungs healthy.

Rebuilding routines and navigating cognitive change

Cognitive changes after a brain injury can slow your thinking processes, affect your concentration, cause memory lapses or make it harder to plan and carry out a complicated task.

We treat thinking and movement as connected, not separate. Physiotherapy after a brain injury often includes exercises that combine the two, such as walking while counting backwards or naming items around the room. That’s real-world practice because you usually have to focus on more than one thing at a time.

Rebuilding your routines can also help keep your day on track. If it’s hard to remember, then try:

Having a checklist on the bathroom mirror for the morning routine
Setting a phone alarm for medication reminders
Having a weekly calendar on the fridge to show upcoming appointments.

Setting goals that actually mean something

Generic goals like “improve mobility” may feel too vague to motivate you greatly. Setting more personalised ones can help, such as being able to walk the dog again, tend to the roses or cook dinner for the family.

As clinicians, we often work with you to identify SMART goals – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timed. These give you something concrete to work towards and something to celebrate when you get there.

Getting the right support after a brain injury

No two brain injuries look the same, and no two recovery journeys should either. That’s why our team at Valens Care builds your treatment plan based on your needs, goals, and space.

We provide hands-on, at-home physiotherapy across south-east Queensland and parts of NSW for people living with a brain injury, including NDIS participants and families. If you’d like to talk through what support might look like for you, please contact us.

Disclaimer
All information is general and not intended as a substitute for professional advice.