The neurological system connects every part of the body, from the brain and spinal cord to the nerves that support movement, sensation balance and communication.
Yet these pathways can become interrupted or unpredictable. As we grow older, numbness, tingling, limited movement and difficulty maintaining balance can become growing concerns. After a stroke or Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, a person may need to relearn familiar tasks.
Neurological rehabilitation helps patients restore essential functions, manage symptoms, and maintain independence and well-being. Because this group of treatments benefits a wide range of conditions, your or your loved one’s doctor may recommend ongoing sessions or a more intensive short-term stay as part of recovery or to help you learn to live with a progressive disorder.
See what your treatment may involve and how West Hartford Health and Rehabilitation Center’s skilled, compassionate professionals can support your care.
What Is Neurological Rehabilitation?
Various injuries, disorders and diseases affect how the nervous system operates. This could impact how someone moves, speaks, swallows, uses their hands or processes information.
Neurological rehabilitation helps patients work toward recovery, retain key skills or manage recent or progressive changes through a combination of physical, occupational, speech and other therapies. These treatments are selected to:
- Strengthen key muscle groups
- Reinforce or reintroduce essential movements and tasks
- Provide adaptive strategies
- Engage cognitive processes to improve memory, judgement and concentration
- Ease a patient’s current or ongoing discomfort
Why Might a Doctor Recommend Neurological Rehab?
Based on the reason for a doctor’s referral and the condition treated, a patient’s care plan may be developed to:
- Guide recovery after surgery or an injury
- Address physical and cognitive changes
- Maintain their strength, balance and movement
- Lower risks for chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart and lung issues
- Help them live a happy, healthy and independent life
What Symptoms and Conditions May Benefit?
Doctors may refer a patient to neurological rehabilitation if they notice a combination of:
- Unexplained physical pain
- Muscle weakness or atrophy
- Difficulty walking
- Swallowing or speaking issues
- Challenges with activities of daily living (ADLs), like eating, dressing or bathing
- Pronounced cognitive changes
- Vision changes and impaired hand-eye coordination
Neurological rehabilitation is also integral to treatment plans for:
- Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment and other cognitive or memory disorders
- Strokes, cerebral hemorrhages, brain aneurysms and vascular disorders
- Brain tumors, encephalitis, traumatic brain injuries and other neurological disorders
- Parkinson’s disease, Huntington chorea, dystonia, seizures and other episodic or movement disorders
- Multiple sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), neurofibromatosis, neuropathy and other neuromuscular conditions
- Balance disorders, spinal cord injuries and herniated discs
What Can You Expect During Neurological Rehabilitation?
We pick up countless skills throughout our lifetimes. This isn’t by chance but a product of our brain’s ability to form new connections.
Neuro rehab therapies use this connection between the brain and body to guide recovery and introduce new ways to complete familiar tasks.
During the Assessment
How is the body performing, and what’s not working? Our team of neurological specialists will conduct a thorough physical and cognitive assessment to better understand your doctor’s concerns and where you may need assistance.
These observations help shape a customized treatment plan intended to restore as much function and independence as possible. You may receive help with:
- Activities of daily living
- Stress and mood management
- Speech therapy
- Movement, muscle control, and balance
- Staying active
- Nutrition
- Cognitive and memory functions
- Social and behavioral support
- Using assistive devices
- Pain management
- Vocational adaptations
- Adapting your home to your needs
During Treatment
Patients meet with therapists and other care professionals at West Hartford Health & Rehabilitation Center for intensive sessions focused on optimizing their recovery and long-term health, including:
- Physiatrist: Oversee your rehabilitation plan with a focus on restoring function, managing pain, improving mobility and coordinating therapy recommendations throughout your recovery.
- Occupational Therapist: Active and passive strategies address motor skill coordination, strength and muscle control, cognition and a patient’s ability to perform ADLs independently.
- Physical Therapist: Learn to keep moving safely and with little-to-no assistance. PT for neurological rehab may focus on strength training and flexibility, balance training, gait exercises, coordination, task-specific movements and using assistive devices like canes and walkers.
- Speech Therapist: Work one-on-one with a speech-language pathologist to practice enunciating words and swallowing movements.
- Neuropsychologist: An injury, stroke or neurological disorder is often a sudden and life-altering event. These sessions can help patients adjust to new changes as they learn cognitive adaptations and stress management techniques.
- Recreational Therapist: Keep active on your terms with guidance from a therapist who specializes in age and ability-specific recreation.
Whether you’re planning your surgical recovery or assisting a loved one following a stroke, West Hartford Health & Rehabilitation Center has a team of informed specialists prepared to create and monitor a personalized care plan.
To learn more about our Short-Term Rehab Services
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