Neurological Rehabilitation

Question 1

when in a patients journey is neurological rehabilitation introduced and why?

Answer 1

introduced on admission to acute care

continued right through even when patient back in community

Question 2

what is the aim of neuro-rehab?

Answer 2

optimise patients level of function and their level of participation in society

Question 3

what healthcare professionals are involved in neuro-rehab?

Answer 3

rehab physician and nurse
physio 
OT 
speech and language 
neuropsychologist 
social work 
orthotist 
dietician

Question 4

what conditions most commonly are seen in neuro-rehab?

Answer 4

acquired brain injury (trauma, metabolic eg prolonged hypoglycaemia)
MS pts (acute relapsing, progressive)
spinal cord injury 
stroke 
neurodegenerative disease
amputees / prosthetics 
transition service for young adults

Question 5

how are patients aims met in neuro-rehab?

Answer 5

goal setting for each task

short, medium and long term goals

Question 6

what framework is followed to produce goals for neuro-rehab?

Answer 6

SMART
s - specific (to each task)
m - measurable (for progress)
a - achievable 
r - reliable 
t - time efficient

Question 7

what is meant by active rehab?

Answer 7

rehab that takes place early to prevent adaptation of tasks

if patients dont recover quickly enough to preserve a task, they resort to adaptation of how they are going to get around it

Question 8

what is meant by restorative rehab?

Answer 8

modification of neural networks in order to fix the neurological impairment

Question 9

how does neuro-rehab promote priming intervention?

Answer 9

use motor and visual imagery ie getting patient to imagine themselves completing a task - this increases brain function

mirror therapy in amputees also useful in increasing function

Question 10

what technique is used in augmenting intervention?

Answer 10

restriction of good limb to promote use of bad limb

Question 11

what is preventative rehabilitation and why is it important?

Answer 11

used to prevent complications eg pressure sores, DVT

important as 70-90% of patients experience these complications

Question 12

what types of equipment may patients be trained to use during rehab?

Answer 12

apps on smartphones for speech and language development

walking aids eg sticks

equipment for house eg handrails, ramp etc